Looks like I'm going to have to make handles for a couple of Russian axes.  The making is no problem, and I have a pattern for a Russian ax handle I made years ago.  Since then, however, I've learned that Russians only use birch for ax and hammer handles.  All I can find locally is 4/4 and minimum 6/4 is what I'll need.

Yeah, birch makes a difference.  The lightness of birch substantially changes the way the ax balances, which is important for all the different ways Russians use the ax.   Besides, one of these will be used at Sutter's Fort and needs to be Russian correct.

You might try this wood locating website, and contact the companies it offers you: http://www.woodfinder.com/.

if birch is common in you area ask a tree service to give you a call. They just cut stuff up so it easier to move. Give them dimensions on length, diameter. You will need to "age it" then work it.

Quote from: Bill Houghton on March 15, 2015, 11:59:56 AM
You might try this wood locating website, and contact the companies it offers you: http://www.woodfinder.com/.

Bingo!  Mac Beath Hardwoods.   Now to see if they have the thickness needed.

We had a furniture item made in my office years back, and the cabinet maker then had no trouble getting 8/4 birch.  Hard to imagine that it's gotten harder.

It turns out that silver birch, AKA Baltic birch is what is needed -- other birches apparently don't have the proper qualities of flex and hardness to do the job.  Finding this birch is not easy, and finding it in 6/4 or 8/4 is really difficult.

They probably use it up making that Baltic birch plywood. I use that stuff all the time.

Would it be bad to glue up a couple of 4/4 pieces?

Chilly