This 42" (107 cm) long bokken has been carved from a solid piece of South American purpleheart wood. This is a special bokken design and was traced (with permission) from a model at the Bujinkan Hombu dojo (from the Big Man himself, no less). Also known as amaranth, purpleheart has gorgeous tones and a Janka hardness rating of 1860. It is strong, dense, and fairly heavy, making an excellent training tool. After giving a final sanding with 280 grit paper, we have given our bokken several coats of tung oil, which will lock in the color and provide a strong coating that resists wear, soiling or denting from light contact. Because of the unique properties of purpleheart, the colouration is very sensitive to long-term exposure to sunlight. A program of maintenance is recommended to prevent gradual darkening of the wood over time.