Heard it used to be used for carving decoys, and for tongue depressors, but no commercial value anymore, not even for bio chips. Now I've never carved anything but maybe a pipe years ago (school days) , but my wife needed a bust for staging some of the jewelery stuff that she makes for photo's. It's been plenty rainy and I cut some basswood to try in the boiler for the shoulder temps and my A.D.D. kicked in while I was splitting between raindrops and I really suprised my self. I have been a fan of this subject matter since I was about 10! Doubt if I could carve a horse or something else.