Splitting Pine Heartwood

[Joezilla]

I go to the NC Sandhills alot, the primary tree there is the long leaf pine (long leaf pine ecosystem). I find old heartwood knobs on the ground filled with pitch, and are excellent for burning. They are also some of the damn hardest things I have ever seen.

This is my question.
How could one split these, or even shave them well to make kindling.
I will post pictures once I go down there.

Say you have a knife probably 8 inches or less, or just a good 3 inch survival knife.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Perhaps useful -- or not.

MY uncle used to put Southern Yellow Pine "pine knots" on an anvil and smash 'em with a small sledge. He used the pieces to start fireplace fires. He had dispaired of cutting them after he chipped out his favoriite old hand axe trying to chop one up. They are sooooooooo tough.

 

[Cymro]

I smash them repeatedly between rocks.

 

[skunked]

Probably not going to cut them, as said smashing is best.

 

[Joezilla]

ug like smash idea. Ug go get rock.

 

[Cymro]

I'm a big believer in using what's around you.

That, and Ug like smash.