Pen kit is round top European
it's a round top European Bubinga set, sold for $100
Congratulations mate, you have the lowest amount, and while far from correct, you are the closest one so, you get the prize...!
As for the kit and woods, I have no idea what I can tell you is that, they are made in China so, anything is possible...!
So, what is the story and its moral...????
Well, as I mention before, someone knocked at my door, referred by one of the guys that visited me a few months ago, to get some pens blanks. This old fellow has told me that, the other guy said that I make pens and also wooden boxes to go with them, he continued on saying that, he had promised a fountain and pen set to one of his friends for his birthday and he forgot all about it, until the day before the birthday so, he panic and drove 40 km to see me, very early the next day, in hope I could make him a set for the afternoon barbecue at his friends place.
This poor fellow, is a pensioner so, he said that he didn't had much money to spend, the maximum would the $50.00...!
He got me out of bed so, I invited him for a cuppa while listening to his problem. The thing was, I felt quite relaxed within 15 minutes of this guy arrival, I knew straight away that I had just the right thing to get him and me, out of troubles as I couldn't possibly make a set and a box that day so, I told him not to worry, as I was able to help him out.
Took him down to the workshop, showed him around and then took him the my "lolly-shop" (shed) where I keep all the finished blanks and other stuff. This poor fellow was lost among all that, he is not a woodworker nor knows much about wood but, he was just overwhelmed with what he had around him. That was when I told him that I couldn't possibly make the type set we wanted and the wooden box that day nor I could make it for such little money however, I had something already done, that would get him out of troubles...!
I went to one of the shelves and pulled out a box, open the box, removed the contents from its original plastics and put it in the table, looked at him and asked, "will this do...???" (didn't mention prices), the olf fellow looked at me and said, "I don't have that sort of money, I only have $50.00 and that looks expensive...!":frown:
I could tell that the old fellow was a bit nervous and recognizing that he was a smoker, I advised him to come out of the shed and have a "fag" to calm down. He done just that and while I don't smoke any more, I was enjoying the smell from his cigarette so, I looked at him and said, "have you got a "tenner"($10.00 note)..???", he replied, "yes I do, why...???", well mate, I said, "that's all that pens set will cost you...!", he looked at me with his eyes nearly jumping out of his face and said, " are you giving it away...???" I replied, "not at all mate, these things are made in China by the container full and I purchased a bunch of them on eBay a few years back, for $4.50 per set + freight, I actually purchased a full 3kg postal bag that cost me $8.20 (then) so I got about 15 of these sets, all almost gone...!"
The next thing, he is asking me, "do they work/right..???" I replied, "absolutely, and quite well, I may say...!", we went inside the shed again, I put a ink cartridge of the fountain, grabbed a piece of paper and asked him to have a go, which he did. "Yeap", he said, "that will do just nicely, my friend is going to be pleased...!"
So, I got the $10 bucks that I sold all the other sets also for, and the old fellow was on his way, about 1 hour after he arrived, with a bog smile on his face...!:wink::biggrin:
These same sets
were the main subject of a tread that I made on the Australian Woodturners forum, some years back, where the subject was, "How can you compete with this...!", there are maybe a few members here that were also members of that forum at the time, and they may remember that thread...!
The issue has not changed since, if anything, has become more obvious, there are just too many to name and anyone can search and see for themselves...!
The MORAL of this story and question - 9 is, is not difficult to "fool" pen makers with these Chinese products, imagine how easy will be for someone with no idea about these issues, to be taken to the cleaners by blokes that would have no hesitation to charge $100.00 if not more for these sets, and claim that they are handmade by themselves...!
And the most scary thing is, these Chinese products are getting better, than never before...!
OK, now that question - 9 is over and done with, lets focus on the next question...!
PS: maxwell_smart007, I will send you a PM shortly, with some info.
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* Question - 10
* In the pics shown here 
is a blank that I made today as a test, the main material used (coloured material) I bought it in 1 (one) meter lengths in a pack with various colours, what is it...???
Are there other alternatives...???
Good luck,
Cheers
George
