Looks an aweful lot like Redwood burl to me.
dude, you might be right, and thanks to all for the compliments. I have spent the last two afternoons taking the handle down in width and circumference. I am trying to teach myself to grind the shape in my hand just by eye, no jigs or any of that. I only have two small imperfections on this one, I am bit too nervous to take it much farther
