You might consider that even if the tree is full of flaws and unsuitable for gunstock blanks that large slabs are very popular for "Nakashima-style" furniture right now.Check out the websites of Hearne & Hearne and Groff&Groff wood merchants. They are both family run lumber businesses in Pennsylvania and they cut flitches or slabs of big trees and sell them for big bucks.They usually have nice color pics of walnut that is for sale and priced into mid 4 figures for nicely figured ones,even with flaws. The flaws add interest to the finished furniture when handled properly.Small pieces of figured walnut are also in demand for turning, pistol grips and other items that require figured small bits of walnut.Don't forget to use some sort of sealant on the end grain and any figured areas. This should be done as soon as the tree is cut on the end. I used paraffin that I heated on a small grill and applied as soon as the tree was down. The end grain really sucks up the sealer and this helps prevent checking. Ditto for crotches or other figured areas. Put the sealer on as soon as cut to have it really get soaked in.Don't expose the sawn slabs to the sun for any length of time either. Checking will start right away and spoil a lot of wood.
