Even in ancient history the ash held an honored place. In Norsemen mythology it was known as the mighty tree that held up the heavens and its roots descended down to hell.
In the spring ash trees produce a ring of very large open pores. During summer ash grows very strong, hard and dense rings making it heavy and tough. The strength and toughness of ash make it the very best choice for tool handles where resistance to impact is a requirement. Another valuable quality of ash is that it finishes to a smooth surface that seldom splinters. Ash was our choice of material to carve net tying needles, sack sewing needles and boat oars from. Ash in the wood carvers' hands is like clay in the potter's hands.
To obtain the wood for our projects we always cut and seasoned our own logs and then hand-cleaved blanks from them by driving a single bit axe head through the log. The half log was then quartered and then each quarter was split in half by driving the cleaver through it parallel with the grain.
I have learned in later years that elm makes a better net needle. After repeated use a net needle made of ash sometimes splits in the eye where the wood is thin; elm never does. Smoothness of the surface is not a problem because the constant friction present in net tying polishes the elm to a high degree.