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.