Morta And Bog Oak: One And Same

pipebuddy · Aug 16, 2015

I hear morta and I hear bog oak. Are they the same, i.e. designating fossilised oak? Or do they bear a different name because of linguistic considerations or it depends on the geographical location they were extracted?
Or something else? Thanks for enlightening me on this matter, gents.

mortonbriar · Aug 16, 2015

I thought bog oak was the basic description of morta...it is important information if someone could clarify so I know whether there are one or two pipes on my 'to get in the future' list

pipebuddy · Aug 16, 2015

Yes, I'm with you on this. I understand, from my reading, that they seem to be the same; but, then, why give 2 different names to a type of bog wood?

clickklick · Aug 16, 2015

My understanding is they are one in the same.

zack24 · Aug 16, 2015

Morta sounds sexier and the suppliers can charge more....

jcsnaps · Aug 16, 2015

Is Morta a process as to what happened to the wood, it fell in the water and stayed there a long time? Could this wood be something other than Oak, how about bog Yew? (easy fellas) Just asking as I purchased pieces of wood from the same seller and he labeled them differently.

Chasing Embers · Aug 16, 2015

They are the same, just as briar is an English corruption of the French "bruyere" meaning "white heath".

tobyducote · Aug 16, 2015

They are the same...

pipebuddy · Aug 17, 2015

Morta sounds sexier and the suppliers can charge more....

It does sound more exotic, doesn't it?
Thanks for your answers, gents!
@jcsnaps: I Googled it. it's fossilised wood and yes, there are other types of wood than oak...See here fore some more details:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog-wood

tbradsim1 · Aug 17, 2015

Morta means dead, in French no a behind Mort, Dead wood that's what is is,

newbroom · Aug 17, 2015

I've read the bog oak is reclaimed wood from trees long ensconced in a particular kind of earth that allowed the wood to 'cure' without rotting.

I have known a couple of people who dive the Sawanee river to reclaim old logs from the late 19th century. It's called deadhead logging, and the wood is prized. I don't think, though, that we're talking about the same thing.

I'd say that bog oak or morta? is much older and obviously a different species of wood from the Sawanee's bounty.

Deadhead logging.

mrenglish · Aug 17, 2015

I remember seeing a special on the deadhead logging. Evidently, the wood is prized for making musical instruments with.
Used to have a large morta Poker from Radice. Thing was light as a feather but huge chunk of wood so I traded it off. Thinking about having Lonestar make me one after the NASPC show. Morta seems to smoke a little different than briar. Almost like a meerschaum in that there is no impact on the taste. Plus, how can you argue with something that is 5000 - 10,000 years old.

calabashed · Aug 17, 2015

@Newbroom That's my understanding as well, being buried in conditions (peat bog) where the wood does not rot. I believe that after a very much longer time than the 5-10k years it takes to become morta, these trees would have ultimately become coal.
It's interesting that there are other bog trees of apparent value as well. I read somewhere that "morta" is most commonly used when referring to pipes. I wonder if all morta pipes are bog oak or if different species of preserved wood could be used?

ben88 · Aug 17, 2015

Mr. Brogg seems to have mortar pipes for under $100

Seems cautious

ejames · Aug 17, 2015

Not all Morta is black or 5-10,000 years old. This block was relatively young--

Pipe made from it--

The blocks come with a certificate to show that they were radio carbon tested-- in Russian.Can only assume it has been dated. Seller has several different "ages" of blocks,pen blanks and knife scales.

lonestar · Aug 17, 2015

Bog Oak is the English name, Morta as Oldcajun points out is Latin/Spanish etc. Both one and the same. There are other names for it too, Abnos is used in Eastern Europe.

jcsnaps · Aug 17, 2015

Russ Cook made this one for me and I asked him not to stain it. It is Michigan Morta, I'll leave it at that.

mortonbriar · Aug 17, 2015

Our equivalent wood (not used for pipes though) in New Zealand is 'Swamp Kauri'...probably harder to market products with the word 'swamp' or 'bog' in it...

ejames · Aug 18, 2015

Our equivalent wood (not used for pipes though) in New Zealand is 'Swamp Kauri'...probably harder to market products with the word 'swamp' or 'bog' in it...

I bought some Kauri pen blanks a while back and decided to research the trees a little. They can be huge!!

kcghost · Aug 18, 2015

I don't believe Michigan Morta is truly morta. It is submerged in water but not in an anaerobic state.

Morta And Bog Oak: One And Same

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