Jason,
Wood is like damascus. You work it and are almost done grinding or polishing and then there's the dreaded vug or cold shut or booger and you just toss the f-ng thing. Or, you do what the clever guys do. You improvise. Carve, cheqer, file, etch. It's gone any way so go for it. I saw a 12 in. blade that was going to make a $2,000 knife when it was done turn to crap half way throught he polish. The maker just sighed and proceded to turn the pit into the eye of a dragon that he then had to carve into the steel. The $2k knife turned into a $20 user then back into a $2500 art knife.
BTW, screw the handle! Damn, son, that's one purty temper line!!!