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.
This knife block has been stabilized with Plexiglas® (PMMA) and fully penetrated. It will no longer absorb water, is dimensionally stable, and will no longer crack. It can be easily worked, but it does not react well to excessive heat during processing, so take care when sawing, drilling and grinding. (When it gets very hot - the melt point is at 90 Celsius - the PMMA begins to smear.)
Very easily worked with sharp tools, but the odor stays within limits and is negligible. The stabilizing gives this block excellent hardness, durability, and stability. It is therefore suitable for heavy duty applications or in areas that get wet, such as outdoors.
Dimensions: approx. 125 x 40 x 30 mm
You will get the shown piece!
The piece is dry and can be processed immediately
The handle block is sanded and coated with a layer of shellac.
This allows you to see exactly the color you will obtain.
Finely grained wood may contain imperfections such as open knots, bark inclusions, or cracks that are typical of the species. These flaws come from the way the tree has grown and are completely natural. They can usually be filled with low-viscosity cyanoacrylate (super glue) and wood dust.