African Sapele Mahogany Scales x 2

African Sapele Mahogany Handle Scales x 2

An important wood economically for African exports, Sapele is not a "true" Mahogany but in the same Meliaceae family and with a similar appearance. Sapele Mahogany is almost 50% harder than "true" Honduras Mahogany making it popular with guitar makers as it is hard and still easy to carve.

The Sapele trees can reach up to 45 m in height with slender 1 m diameter trunks and have been an important export from Tropical Africa for a long time. It is not on the threatened species list  

Used both as veneer due to attractive hue and as wood in furniture and boat building, it is an attractive handle material but requires care and sharp tools to avoid tear-outs when worked.

This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.