I should also have added that I don't have a shortage of staves... so I don't have to use this, just wondering if I can.
The scar is near one end, so no way to put it in the handle. If I cut off the scar back to sound wood, I would have about 54 or 55 inches, not enough for a bow for me, but enough to make billets. But it is just narrow enough that I would have to split perfectly or get nothing.
Pat, I think you really highlighted what I was feeling, that I would need to get deep enough into the stave for good wood.
I have never done siyahs, so that thought never occurred to me.
Out of curiosity, I may start chasing at the scar end to see just how deep I have to go to hit good wood, but I am liking the idea of trying my first siyah bow.