Identify Wood ???

[Ron Wood]

Perhaps it is wood from the fabled "Charter Oak". From Wikipedia: "The Charter Oak was an unusually large white oak tree growing on Wyllys Hyll in Hartford, Connecticut in the United States, from around the 12th or 13th century until it fell during a storm in 1856. According to tradition, Connecticut's Royal Charter of 1662 was hidden within the hollow of the tree to thwart its confiscation by the English governor-general."

Sam Colt was an admirer of old trees and obtained some of the wood that became the grips of what I think is known as the "Charter Oak Series" of Colt pistols, which consisted of nine known 1855 "Root" side hammer pistols and one 1849 pocket pistol (these guns were later examples manufactured in the 1860s, so that post dates the demise of the tree in 1856). Several other items were crafted from the wood salvaged from the tree. Charter Oak wood, if authentic, would seem to be a likely source for the scales on a premium Buck knife.
Ron