1 Pair Steel Head Portable High Grade Africa Ebony Wood Chinese Chopsticks 02

Spending this much money for a single pair of chopsticks can seem like a rather risky affair. After all the Newrea factory isn't exactly in Kentucky and while the pictures they give you look great, you have no idea if what you get is going to look as good. The seller Wisdom China does not exactly have a huge presence in America either. But somebody has to be the guinea pig and I wanted some classy sticks, so I bit the bullet and ordered three different pair of sticks. I paid $56 for this ebony pair and for that much I fully expected nothing short of perfection!Shipping and PackagingAfter I ordered my sticks I waited 15 days before I received my shipment. The China Post tracking process was rather lame, and did not ever provide a deliver day like UPS. The "surprise" package arrived rather seriously "distressed". There was also no paperwork to be found within my package, not even a sales receipt or a care manual. However the three sets of chopsticks were very well protected being heavily wrapped in bubble wrap.The Storage BoxAs advertised each set of chopsticks came within their own bamboo box with a sliding dove tail top lid that is magnetically held closed. The boxes were of fine quality, lightly vanished, very smooth and with very tight glued together seams. Two of the three boxes had lids that fit tightly while one box lid had a loose fit, but the magnet kept them all closed well enough. The boxes had round depressions in the lid for your finger to remove the lid. However, sadly, my boxes did not have the "Newrea" engraving on them so the boxes look more generic than they should.The ChopsticksAll the chopsticks came in a protective plastic sleeve and also each box had bits of foam inside to keep the chopsticks from moving around during shipment. Being ebony these chopsticks are very dark in color and variations could only been seen in extremely bright light. They were surprisingly smooth and straight with NO odd variations, bends, bumps or scratches in the surface. The sticks were nearly perfectly matched in diameter from one end to the other. As shown in the pictures they did have the "Newrea "R"" laser etched (not painted) on them. However, the ferrules on my sticks were both loose and required me to glue them back on. The ferrules are not threaded but are simply slip fit on. I removed them carefully and added a drop or two of Gorilla wood glue into the ferrules and slipped them back on. These sticks were heavier when compared to the disposables you get in restaurants! The steel ferrules obviously affect the center of gravity. They measured exactly 9.43" long (43.0cm) and .312" (8mm) in diameter at their thickest.Wait For It ---- A BonusI also received in my package a bonus pair of children's Newrea chopsticks. They were square ended and tapered to a round point. They were engraved, made of ebony and also were of very fine quality. They however did not come in a box. It was a very nice and unexpected gift that I hope all customers receive.