No apple crates for me, I enjoy Eastern black walnut very much even in the plainer grades and I think it's very possible to find relatively unfigured wood that is plenty handsome enough to warrant my time, especially if you like a bit more subtle character...plus, the dense feathered wood at the butt of a longer stock makes it that much harder to balance a light gun the way I want. Unfortunately I'm having a hard time finding any for sale.
I had not considered Pete Hiatt, I thought being in Oregon he would not do much with Eastern wood. I'll drop him a line, thanks. If anyone else knows of any other good sources I'm all ears.
