I was just reading that snakewood is one of the hardest woods in the world. From that link:
Meier’s own list ranks quebracho, with a Janka score of 4,570 lbf, as the hardest wood in the world. Quebracho is found in Paraguay and Argentina. Also on the list is the lignum-vitae (a small shrub from the Caribbean, and Central and South America), gidgee (an Australian tree that apparently smells like rotting cabbage), snakewood (an extravagantly patterned Latin American tree), and camelthorn (a dangerous spiked tree from southern Africa).
I was told when I bought the brush in the photo that the handle was snakewood, but it may be another wood of the same name. Still, looking at a photo of samples, it seems as though it might be the real deal. It’s a very light wood, judging by the sample I have, but density and hardness may be only roughly correlated.
This knot is quite fluffy, but I easily loaded it and got an extremely nice lather right away. I can readily see why Wholly Kaw’s donkey-milk base made the “best of 2022” list. I didn’t say “Holy cow!” (the origin of the name), but I certainly felt the emotion: seriously rich and smooth lather, easily achieved.
The Stealth is one of my all-time favorite razors and among the best slants I own. A perfect and smooth shave was the quick result, pleasurable all the way.
A splash of Barrister & Mann Reserve Classic, with a squirt of Hydrating Gel, and I’m ready for the weekend.