Who knows if this would've survived being a bit wider and backed..we won't ever know. But it just might have. ERC rarely ever just lifts a splinter or crack and not come apart. When it does so it comes apart into pieces as shown here. A backing could've kept it from lifting that splinter and exploding. Its a very elastic wood,and can bend very far before breaking as long as its backed. Being unbacked in my crude bend tests with it it just doesn't go very far at all before breaking in tension. Just like this one didnt go very far before breaking. Its of my opinion that "chances" are that this isn't 100% the woods fault.
One other thing is that you can't "rush" this wood when bending/tillering it. You can't treat it like osage,yew,or hickory for example. It needs to be patiently taught how to bend,and thoroughly exercised as its being tillered. And the rule of not bending it any further than when the teeniest tineiest slightest hinge is seen must be adhered to. You can't go to first bracing it,and saying that looks good and yanking it back to 20"+. Sorry but it don't matter how good a bowyer someone is,you just don't go making a ERC bow(let alone unbacked) in two hours. But pearly isn't a "patient" bowyer,and ERC is def not made to his liking and style of bowmaking or personality. Hopefully no offense is taken pal. ERC isn't for everyones style and how they make bows. ERC gets such a bad rep,but I think a lot of it is just as much the person as it is the wood if not more actually.
Sure it isn't a great "selfbow" wood,but if treated right it can make a great backed bow still.
