The Knife-Making Process: Curly Birch FAQ
At Casström, we pride ourselves on going that bit further for our customers. Our renowned build quality is the result of attention to detail throughout the complete knife-making process.
What is curly birch?
Curly birch is a variant of silver birch. It originates from Karelia in Finland and Russia and is also known as Karelian birch.
It was once thought that the distinctive pattern was caused by beetle larvae boring into the tree, but it has now been shown to be a genetic anomaly (we prefer to use anomaly rather than defect - Mother Nature knows what she is doing!). The annual rings are oriented incorrectly, which gives the characteristic "flames" of the curly birch grain.
Is curly birch sustainable?
Yes! Casström source all of our curly birch through PEFC-certified forests in Scandinavia.
Is there a difference in quality in the curly birch available?
Curly birch is graded on a scale from AAA to C, with AAA being the highest grade and C being inferior grade. AAA showcases the most striking patterns and density of grain. While other companies may use A grade curly birch, which is fault-free but has less distinct grain, we go a step further.
How do you source your curly birch?
Unlike many companies that buy curly birch by the tree that is then cut into planks, we source ours in block form. This unique approach allows us to guarantee that we use only the top 5% of curly birch material (Triple-A to AA only), ensuring premium quality for every knife.
How does this selection process contribute to knife quality?
Quality is always about attention to detail! By showing this attention to detail in the selection process, we ensure that each knife handle not only looks fantastic but also performs as it should perform. In going that extra mile, in both material selection and craftsmanship, we have built our reputation for knives that have exceptional build quality, sustainability, and longevity.
What we like to call, THE SUSTAINABLE EDGE.
