Snakewood (Brosimum guianense) is one of the rarest and most distinctive woods in the world. Its pale yellow, orange-brown or reddish-brown background is covered in dark markings that look remarkably like snakeskin.The grain is usually straight and the texture exceptionally fine, giving finished pieces a remarkable luster. It's a close relative of Bloodwood.It's extremely dense and hard, and it can be brittle, splintering or cracking during machining, so razor-sharp tools and patience are essential. It turns beautifully and polishes to an extraordinary finish.The trees have slender trunks and yield little clear wood, so Snakewood is mostly sold as small billets, turning blanks, scales and pen and bow blanks. It's one of the most expensive woods per board foot, and a favorite for knife and gun handles, inlay, luxury pens, instrument parts and violin bows.