batoning

A basic skill set of primitive bushcraft, batoning is the act of splitting a larger piece of wood with an edged weapon (usually a fixed blade knife such as a bowie) by hammering the knife through with another piece of wood in the manner of a hammer or mallet.

As the sun was setting, the temperature was plummeting. The group had to start a fire quickly. Jane, the group's leader, had already begun to chop down large branches with an axe. She began batoning the large logs into smaller, manageable branches and twigs with her bowie hunting knife.