Splitting maul

Wood cutting tool

A splitting maul (or mall) is a heavy, long-handled hammer used for splitting a piece of wood along its grain. One side of it is identical to a sledge hammer and the other side is an axe. A typical maul for wood splitting will have a head weighing in region of 4kg (8lbs). Traditionally, mauls have a wedge-shaped head, but some modern versions have conical heads or swiveling sub-wedges. The original maul resembles an axe but with a broader head. For splitting wood, this tool is much better than a typical axe. The weight of it is more advantageous and due to its width, it is less likely to become stuck in the wood.

Military usage

Mauls are also known as war hammers, as these massive two-handed hammers were sometimes used in close combat battle. Often, such a maul is the mental image that accompanies the word "war hammer." These kinds of mauls are often comprised of large, either plain or ornate metal or stone blocks, usually longer than they are tall, mounted on a long, two-handed handle in a "T" shape.