In fact this 1995 kettle was equiped with wood handles. I think they switched in 1997....but mine were so dirty they were black so I wanted to replace the old trio and give the seassoned old kettle some fresh wind.
The old catalog from the 60's says they are solid walnut. I have a bunch from the 80's & 90's I think they are pine. No way they are teak. I think at some point they just used whatever wood they could find.