I just received a new delivery of Karelian Masurbirch from Finland last week: 1.5 tons of it in total. The quality is simply top-notch!
The wood was freshly felled just a month ago and immediately taken to the sawmill to cut. Different thicknesses between 35 and 75 mm (1.37 and 2.95 inches) were produced. Birch trunks typically get bogged down with moisture if their waterproof bark is not removed right away. Of course, it’s this same waterproof bark that was used to make canoes.
The freshly cut timber will have to be stored for a while and allowed to dry. But no need to panic: there’s plenty of top quality dry piece already in stock. Drop in and see for yourself!

The Karelian masur birch (Betula pendula var. Carelica) occurs in Karelia, the border region between Russia and Eastern Finland. It is simply THE classic wood for Nordic knives of all kinds, such as the Sami knife. It cannot be used for much larger objects simply because of its rather small dimensions (the trunks are normally only 4-8 inches across). Trunks with good grains are relatively rare and are much sought after. The typical appearance in the form of brown veins is unique and is found in no other burl.
The birch also plays a major role in the mythology and customs of all the Nordic and Scandinavian peoples: it was dedicated to the goddess Freya. The birch was also understand as a "tree of protection" and a "tree of light," where superstition held that it would attract lightning, which is why it is rarely found on farms. Traditions, like that of the maypole, survive to this day.