Guess I've been giving the steel snake a workout this week! This is a hard maple HF 6 3/4 X just under 3". The dark strip is from a small branch that was poking out the side. I didn't think it would add much to the piece till I got into the wood. Nice surprize. Has 3 coats of AO burned in on the lathe. I'll buff it out in a weekor two...Bill...