Pat B,
yes the fracture is on the back,the back grain does not look violated,the fracture did not go to either edge.
I don't know how it was treated after harvest,there is s a pin knot right where if fractured. the guy that gave me this stave has made several bows from the same tree this came from,flat bow,long bow and a take down bow,all of which are beautiful and great shooters.
i would put it in the corner and try another,except this is the only one i have to work on.
don't have access to trees to cut,a friend had given me an 8 foot hhb log. when split it had severe grain twist,like 120 degrees.
so i guess its off the fabric store,or I'll have to order another floor tillered stave to play with.
thank you.
PEACE,
Tim