I was roughing out a narrow hickory stave today that I split off the side of another... the stave is only about 50" long by an inch wide...Was planning on making a little bendy handled bow pulling 45# at 23". I know that this is not an optimum width for hickory, but I know that some native bows were this width and I didn't have much choice as far as my stave went... My main problem is about 2/3rds of the way down one limb there is a dark colored spot that will be exposed when I reach final dimensions. It appears on both sides of the stave so I am afraid that it goes all of the way through... The top of this spot is only about 5/16ths of an inch from the bows back, so I know that I can't avoid it... Should I proceed with this piece of wood, or should I scrap it? The pics show the spot on both sides... Any input would be welcome... Thanks.
Jon