✅ SOLVED Steel wedge id

[cellerfeller]

I am hoping this will be an easy one - I dug a shingle hatchet at a local cellar recently. Not far away from it I pulled this wedge out of the ground. I have never seen one quite like it before. It is 4 1/2" long with a 2 3/4" blade end and a hole loop for hanging. It seems very thin to be a timber faller's wedge. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[crashbandicoot]

It doesn,t seem to have a sharp edge like a knife,so maybe a early caulking iron.Used to drive ropes of caulking into seams of planks on boats or ships most commonly.Just a guess,I didn,t do any research,it popped into my head such as it is!

 

[Deftone]

I would say a bucking wedge.

 

[BAW]

It is indeed a bucking wedge. They were used in pairs while bucking logs (sawing them into sections after they were cut and down). The hole is for attaching the wedges to a cord. In use, after sawing partly through the log, the axe is sunk into the top of whichever section of the log looks least likely to move after the cut is completed. One bucking wedge is driven into the log (not into the saw cut, but across it) on one side of the axe handle and the other wedge on the other side, with the cord stretched over the top of the axe handle. Then the saw cut is completed. The two wedges have fastened the cut-off piece to the main body of the log, so the cut-off piece will not roll forward and run over you, and the cord stretched over the axe handle prevents the wedges from falling onto your saw blade. This is only necessary when bucking extremely large logs, of the size seldom found today.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

It is indeed a bucking wedge. They were used in pairs while bucking logs (sawing them into sections after they were cut and down). The hole is for attaching the wedges to a cord. In use, after sawing partly through the log, the axe is sunk into the top of whichever section of the log looks least likely to move after the cut is completed. One bucking wedge is driven into the log (not into the saw cut, but across it) on one side of the axe handle and the other wedge on the other side, with the cord stretched over the top of the axe handle. Then the saw cut is completed. The two wedges have fastened the cut-off piece to the main body of the log, so the cut-off piece will not roll forward and run over you, and the cord stretched over the axe handle prevents the wedges from falling onto your saw blade. This is only necessary when bucking extremely large logs, of the size seldom found today.

Great information BAW, this is good to know for anyone who finds this type of iron wedge.
Dave

 

[ToddsPoint]

It is indeed a bucking wedge. They were used in pairs while bucking logs (sawing them into sections after they were cut and down). The hole is for attaching the wedges to a cord. In use, after sawing partly through the log, the axe is sunk into the top of whichever section of the log looks least likely to move after the cut is completed. One bucking wedge is driven into the log (not into the saw cut, but across it) on one side of the axe handle and the other wedge on the other side, with the cord stretched over the top of the axe handle. Then the saw cut is completed. The two wedges have fastened the cut-off piece to the main body of the log, so the cut-off piece will not roll forward and run over you, and the cord stretched over the axe handle prevents the wedges from falling onto your saw blade. This is only necessary when bucking extremely large logs, of the size seldom found today.

I read your description but couldn't picture what you are describing. Don't doubt you, but would love to see a video of this operation. Gary

 

[No gold in NY]

I read your description but couldn't picture what you are describing. Don't doubt you, but would love to see a video of this operation. Gary

Seems like quite a process. I couldn't grasp it either. I certainly do like that wedge though. Thanks for saving it.

 

[ARC]

BAW is correct... "bucking wedge"... AKA "felling wedge".

 

[BAW]

https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm04232822/page11.htm
If I did it correctly the link above ought to take you to a US Dept of Forestry website with a photograph of two bucking wedges strung together and a drawing showing them in use which will make more sense than my rather convoluted verbal description. I hope you can just click on the link to access it but I won't swear to it, as I was unable to find a small child to help me.

 

[DCMatt]

https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm04232822/page11.htm
If I did it correctly the link above ought to take you to a US Dept of Forestry website with a photograph of two bucking wedges strung together and a drawing showing them in use which will make more sense than my rather convoluted verbal description. I hope you can just click on the link to access it but I won't swear to it, as I was unable to find a small child to help me.

It works! Great info. Learned something today. Thx!

 

[cellerfeller]

Wow - thanks so much for all the info. I also found part of a part of a pulp saw blade nearby. I am going back to see if there is another one.

 

[DCMatt]

Years ago I hunted a small patch of woods with large "old growth" trees. That's the only reason we went in. We dug 4 or 5 of these small iron wedges and loads of flat buttons, some with hemp thread still attached as though they had been ripped from a man's shirt. It wasn't until we dug bits of a saw that we figured it out.

 

[dozer dan]

 

[crashbandicoot]

Bucking wedge is it!I stand corrected.Nice research.

 

[Deftone]

Hmm. This whole time I thought they were for keeping the cut down tree from moving and pinching the bar or keeping the saw out of the dirt while cutting .