In and around 1968 I had 3 uncles who lived way out. Being born an old soul I spent quite a bit of time with them. No electricity, no running water. They had never married and lived as their parents did. Fred, the oldest was born in 1900.
They cut all their wood with a buck saw and made all their own handles something I found very interesting.
Now anyone who has delt with hickory knows that a split piece is a lot harder to break than these sawn ones you buy at the store.
Fred told me they would rough a handle in green slightly oversized. Sink it under kerosene to cure. 6 months, a year or when they needed it. These handles thus cured were virtually unbreakable and not prone to rot.
How do youns rekin this would work for a hickory bow stave?