Batoning across the grain?

[bigghoss]

Saw this video and basically thought the guy was an idiot but figured there was a possibility I was the one lacking in knowledge. Basically the guy tried batoning across the grain and broke a large heavy bowie. The only time I've ever seen this done it was with a small knife that couldn't chop and he only went in a bit and broke out a chip until he could push the tree over rather than trying to go all the way straight through. What say you?

This video is almost a year old so maybe it's been posted here before but I didn't find anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZkO_...feature=g-vrec

Here's a vid of him trying the same thing with a bushman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW24G...watch_response

[Half Cut Skele]

Looks to me like he tried pulling the blade up straight, instead of at the angle he had chopped/batoned the branch. If so, that's just asking for trouble.

[kimberfan]

you dont baton like that you always notch it or chop instead and use a baton to split.