Osage orange is commonly used for custom knife handles for all the
reasons mentioned.
A couple more possibilities would be walnut and Corylus colurna var.
lacera (aka Corylus jaquemontii). Corylus, filberts, throw many
suckers that meet the dimensional specifications. The specimens of
jaquemontii that I have seen have a distinctive "muscle" look. It is
similar to hop-hornbeam but different.
And then there is always bamboo.
>
> Guess another species Fluffy might consider for a hard, durable,
> beautiful-grained wood would be Osage Orange(Maclura pomifera).
>
> Lucky