Narra

Narra is a highly prized tropical hardwood known for its warm golden-brown to rich reddish heartwood with striking darker streaks, creating a naturally elegant and luxurious appearance. Native to Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines and Indonesia, Narra is valued for its durability, stability, and fine texture, making it ideal for artisan woodworking and decorative projects.

Its straight to interlocked grain and fine texture allow Narra to machine, turn, and sand smoothly, producing a polished surface that highlights its rich color and natural luster. Perfect for pen blanks, knife handles, turned objects, inlays, furniture accents, and specialty crafts, Narra combines beauty with functional strength in every piece.

Botanical Information

Scientific Name: Pterocarpus indicus

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia)

Common & Trade Names

Narra, Burmese Rosewood, Red Narra, Andaman Redwood, Philippine Narra

Key Characteristics

Heartwood: golden-brown to rich reddish, often with darker streaks

Sapwood: pale, clearly defined

Straight to interlocked grain

Fine to medium texture

Dense, durable, and stable

Smooth natural luster

Workability

Machines, sands, and turns well with sharp tools

Accepts stains, oils, and finishes beautifully

Glues and polishes reliably

Ideal for small precision projects and decorative crafts

Health & Safety Note

Wood dust may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. Use proper dust extraction, respirator, and eye protection when machining or sanding Narra.

Narra wood, Pterocarpus indicus, Burmese Rosewood, Southeast Asian hardwood, pen blank wood, knife handle wood, turning wood, decorative hardwood, artisan craft wood, exotic hardwood