Yea sawing a crotch seems the beat way to do it. This trunk was hollow I think it would have been easy, I am surprised he didn't keep it. Could just saw it and split the slab real easy. It was doaty in the middle at the top of the trunk where It broke but 80% hollow at ground. But if it were solid id let them have it too. I cut up some 40" oak once that was solid. It was a huge waste of time wrestling it. Made a lot of good wood but I think k if they were 12" or 18" rounds I would of made way better time as less time would have been spent positioning rounds.
