Was at my local Menards today looking thru the hickory boards and the pickings was pretty slim as usual.  I did find 2 straight grained bias sawn 1" X  2"  X 8' boards one of which is so dark that I'm thinking it's heartwood?  Anyone make a bow from one of these dark boards?  It's kind of thin ringed but straight grained and I liked the looks of it so for $9.50 I took a chance.      

AIUI, Hickory heartwood is better in compression, sapwood better in tension, so of course, when I was using it I used heartwood for a backing strip and sapwood for the stave (backwards from what it should've been). At least I got the heartwood handle right.

Looked pretty though, and shot well, so it seems to be a minor difference.

I've heard what william said about the heartwood vs sapwood before as well. I don't knot how much it really matters though ... I amde one hicjkory bow that was like half sapwood and half heartwood split down the middle of the bow and running end to end. Didn;t twist or chrysal in one area. They seemed pretty similar.

I've also used heartwood for backing strips without any suprises.

Thanks for the info guys; glad to hear that it's good bow wood       I've seen quite a few boards with the heartwood/sapwood mixed like you mentioned, Ben, but they always have bad grain or knots.  I'd love to find a nice clear one; bet that would make a neat looking bow.

I use heartwood and sapwood. Both make great bows although I do prefer the color of heartwood, just put on some poly and man she will shine.