Since I've been an assistant scoutmaster in my son's Boy Scout troop I've noticed that while trying to split a small log with a hand axe (hatchet ) the Scouts will bury the axe edge into the end of the log and then start slamming the log/axe into another log or the ground hoping the inertia will drive the axe through the log. Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam! Usually it doesn't work well with a hand axe.

I've been suggesting to the Scouts that instead they baton the axe head into the log by striking the back of the axe head with another log. By the time the head is nearly buried into the end, the log always splits with relative ease. Less work and safer.

Ken K.

P.S. When I was a Scout we always used full length axes, but his troop seems to frown upon their use. I try to go with the flow.