I have been building this design for about 7 years in a variety of wood types. It is a nice craftsman style detail, but it also provides an extremely sturdy joint. The joints are mostly cut by hand using the japan pull saw and a mallet and chisel. I would guess I have built 40-50 of these, I've got my technique down and have built a variety of sizes. The most common one has been the reclaimed fir, seemed to fit right in with Portland's mindset if reduce/reuse/recycle. Our local wood resources also offer Western Walnut, Myrtle, Madrone, White Oak, Maple, Cedar and more.
To chat about a custom piece, you can visit my online store at www.driftedge.etsy.blogspot.com