my roselli axe has birk handle, some swedish knive's have elm handle's, it depends how fussy you are. What purpose have you in mind for your tools (what tool's are they?) ash and hickory are hard to beat for durability generations of craftsmen cant all be wrong thats what has generally been used for hammer and axe handles. But if its for something with less stress I'd say pretty much any thing. Oak tends to splinter, ash self polishes with use. They used box wood for fine chisle's and screw driver's, beech is ok as well but I wouldnt use it on a long handle that has to take a battering