I know i cut it too soon, but what the hey, i was told the wood was 150 years old. I was looking for some 20 plus grain maple from dealers in canada and ran across this dealer that said a local cue builder had used some of his river salvage birch for shafts. He told me these logs were 150 years old and would be happy to send me a sample. The shaft was not being built for sale so i cut sooner than i normally would. I put this shaft on a wood pin tru-balance brunswick that i had made for guests to use in my rec room. The shaft weights 3.9 oz at 29 inches with a 13 mm tip. It is honey in color. I played for about an hour and here is what i think, the shaft has a very solid feel, to me it seems a bit firmer than maple. I also believe there is less squrit. All in all i would not be afraid to use a birch shaft as a daily player, but i will make that decision after its been time tested. thanks chuck starkey
