Giant red wood felling question

[blkcloud]

I have always wondered why loggers who cut these giant trees would chop one side with a ax and then saw the back side.. why didnt they just use a saw on both sides?

 

[northmanlogging]

Try using a hand saw cutting an angle some time, its not exactly a pleasurable experience. Axes where just faster and easier for the angle cuts.

By the way they used this method on nearly everything not just the giant redwoods, they would cut the bottom cut with the saw, chop out the face or notch section and then cut the back with the saw again. In reality there are three cuts, just like falling modern timber.

 

[woodchuck357]

Often two parallel saw cuts were made several inches apart then the wood between was busted out with wedges to form a box or jump notch.