The three-piece laminated head of Ryan’s dead-blow mallet has chambers filled with lead shot for functionality and is faced with leather to prevent marring. The handle is octagonal and tapered, and terminates in a matching pommel for a secure, comfortable grip. “The primary wood is maple,” Ryan says, “while the secondary wood was recovered from a shipping pallet of Pacific Asian origin and remains a mystery, although I suspect it is padauk.”

HARD MAPLE AND “MYSTERY” PALLET WOOD 2-1⁄8D x 5-3⁄4W x 14-3⁄16L

–Ryan D. Cheney, Louisville, Colo., @mountaintopjoinersshop

Photo: Dan Knudson