Considering how small this axe/maul is, it’s pretty amazing who well it splits wood.

The blade is sharp and angles out ridiculously wide, with a sledgehammer-like round back, so when splitting especially large diameter wood, you can use another hammer to push the blade in further if you can split the wood in a single blow.

Though you really need to kneel when using it as the maul is so short that you risk injuring yourself if used standing, the balance is really designed to maximize the force of the blade going into the wood.

Keep in mind though, that it’s weight, blade shape, and shortness really makes it a one purpose axe. It’s designed to split wood, and while it could do the other jobs that an axe requires, it would be unwieldy in any other role. a regular camp axe or hatchet won’t be able to split wood as efficiently, but would be able to do so many other things well. This product really needs to stay at home, near a fireplace or near where you keep your cord of firewood. It’s a fireside friend and nothing else, but a dang good fireside friend.