It is a beech! I've never had any before. Got to split some this afternoon. I've split easier. What a learned about this stuff is don't get your face too close to the maul when extracting it when stuck in the split. That Beech if partially split squeezes back together like a spring and the maul head spits back at you! Glad I was quick enough to turn my head the first time. And remember not to do it again!
That happened to me once except I caught it on the cheekbone. Now I instinctively place the palm of one hand over the back of my maul or splitting axe whenever working one out of a split. Other trick is to shove a splinter or other splitting drivel into the crack that you have opened up to hold it open. Makes it easier to place the next wack where you want it and theoretically keeps your maul from squirting back in your face.
Glad I mentioned it. Never heard of it happening and certainly never experienced it. The back of that maul had chicklets in its cross hairs!
