Kindling splitting tool - video

[ACinSV]

So, this is obviously a "froejack".

Yes, yes, the first time in history anyone has uttered such a word. (Or not. There's probably a long-expired patent on one somewhere in the back stacks... There are SO many good ideas someone thought of and never did anything with, because inventors do NOT necessarily make good businesspeople - in fact, I have much experience in my first job fresh out of MBA school counseling startups that the correlation coefficient often felt like it approached -1 fairly closely at times. Not always, but often. :-)

I love the new version.

As a hobbyist knifemaker, I totally agree with TheElderBrother's suggestion to make the blade out of hardenable steel. Obvious suggestion for a cheap possibility would be a lawnmower blade, or the classic leaf spring off a car if you can find such a thing anymore/where you live. If you're anywhere near horse country, find a farrier and ask for an old file - they're useless once they wear down (which they do quickly) and they're fantastic, very well hardenable steel. (I got 6 off a friend's farrier just for asking and she was happy to give 'em to me.) You'll have to UNharden (anneal) the end with a torch to drill a hole in it for the pivot pin; keep the rest of the blade wrapped in a wet rag to keep from annealing it, and when you grind the edge go slow and dunk it in water often.