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John Traister fired his first gun at age 4 and immediately became addicted to outdoor sports, spending all the time his parents would allow hunting and fishing the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. After studying such publications as Shooter's Bible, Gun Digest, Field & Stream, American Rifleman and others, John made up his mind at an early age to write about firearms and the outdoors. However, this goal was not to come about until he attended Boston University and served a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps.
His goal was further interrupted by becoming a master electrician, an electrical contractor, and Chief Electrical Designer for Engineering Associates, Ltd. in Charlottesville, Virginia...not to mention his trombone playing with some of the better big bands of the day.
It was not until 1969 that John Traister sold his first magazine article to
Fur-Fish-Game. This first article was followed by several more within a few
months. He then put the pedal to the metal and turned out four technical books in one year for Howard W. Sams Co., three additional books for McGraw-Hill, etc., etc. Now with over 100 books to his credit, along with dozens of magazine articles, John Traister divides his time between electrical construction and books on outdoor sports. He is also editor of Stoeger Publishing Company's Gun Trader's Guide which has been an annual best-seller since its introduction 20 editions ago.
Visit his website at http://tcsnet.com/traister.
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A good outdoorsman is quickly recognized by the way he uses an axe. So is a
poor one! Splitting wood for the camp or cabin (or home, for that matter) is
a frequent chore encountered by those in the Shenandoah Valley, so learn to
do it easily and safely.
Never place a round chunk of wood to be split on its side as shown in "C"
below (Figure 1). If your axe does not hit just right, the stick will roll,
causing the axe to flip sideways. Instead, place the stick to be split
upright on a stump or chopping block (see "A" below). Never stand it up on
the ground or place it on a rock.
If the stick will not stand on end, or if there is no stump or chopping block
available, use a "schoolma'm" as shown in "B" below. Just before the axe
strikes, give it a slight twist to the right or left and the wood will split
more easily; but it takes a little practice to get it just right.
When leaving your axe for a short time, always stick it in a log or tree,
never lay it on the ground or in the snow.
One careless blow can split or break an axe handle, so take careful aim
before swinging.
Never use the axe as a splitting wedge.
Cut large pieces of wood using a flying cut.
Keep hands, fingers, and legs out of the "line of fire," and always use eye
protection.
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