Scotty, man, you have M. Fordney nailed. What's not to like? I'm sending an apprentice down to Mt. Gretna for carving hints, then she can teach me.
Up here we now work on a hockey stick Lehigh with such a beautiful butt stock that I can't bring myself to put a patch box on it. I'm presenting it plain, and if the customer wants to cover it with brass, I will, if he/she insists. One of Fred's dense red maple sticks from Jack's Mountain territory.
PS: I learned something from a Juniata Co. cabinet maker yesterday. All his wood is felled and cut within 20 miles of his shop. Oak and hickory the standard materials. Maple 20% more. Cherry 40% more. All based on availability. I found this interesting.