Exploring the Bushman Axe (and splitting green wood)
When it comes to splitting firewood, there’s a lot of discussion around the best methods and tools to use. Not really, most would tell you a wood splitter or a splitting maul. But let’s pretend anyways. Recently, I decided to dive into the world of firewood preparation, and picked up an old Bushman axe to get started.. This axe, with its intriguing history and design, sparked my interest as I sought to tackle the task of splitting green wood in the freezing Canadian winter.
The Assumption About Splitting Firewood
I’ve always held the belief that splitting dry firewood would be the easier option (apparently not always true). The logic was simple: dry wood cracks and splits with minimal effort, making it ready for stacking. However, I began to wonder about the effectiveness of splitting green wood. My assumption was that green wood, which contains a lot of moisture, might actually split better during colder conditions. With temperatures hovering around -18°C, I figured the wood would be frozen solid, making it easier to split.
Testing the Theory: Green Wood Splitting
To put my theory to the test, I took down a few trees the week prior, stacking it into logs for the fireplace. That was our first real test of the Husqvarna 545 Mark II. The goal was to see if splitting the wood while it was still green would expedite the drying process, allowing it to season faster for summer use.
The Bushman Axe
Before diving into splitting, I wanted to try out my new old axe. I had been searching for something vintage, and I stumbled upon the Bushman axe on Facebook Marketplace. This particular axe is made in Sweden and dates back to a brand that operated from the 1930s to the 1970s. However, I couldn’t find much detailed history about it, which added a layer of intrigue.
A Bit of Background on the Bushman Axe
The Bushman axe is produced by a company called EIA in Sweden, which still operates today, crafting various arborist and forestry equipment. What complicates matters is that there is also a well-known axe company called Wetterlings that produces a Bushman axe in collaboration with Les Stroud, famous for the “Survivor Man” series. This overlap made my research a bit challenging, and I found myself wondering if anyone in the community had insights into the history of the Bushman axe brand. If so, I would love to learn more.
A Closer Look at the Axe Design
This particular axe is forged with a Michigan pattern, which is designed more for felling than splitting. Despite this, it features rounded cheeks that seem to enhance its splitting capabilities. Although it might not compare to higher-end axes, I was quite pleased with my $60 purchase and excited to see how it performed. Spoiler alert- it went awesome.
Results and Observations
After completing the first stack, I felt a sense of accomplishment. The axe handled well, and I was impressed with how effectively it split the wood. The rounded cheeks of the axe seemed to aid in the splitting process, allowing me to make clean cuts without getting stuck too often.
As I wrapped up my wood-splitting adventure, I remained curious about the Bushman axe’s history and design. I reached out to fellow enthusiasts for their insights, hoping to learn more about the origins of this intriguing tool. If you have any information about the Bushman axe or its manufacturer, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!