Chainsaws were not originally made for cutting down trees – it’s much more gruesome

Some things you just wish you didn’t know.

Some facts are just weird

Ever come across a fact that made you wish you’d stayed blissfully ignorant? This might be one of those moments.

While many everyday tools seem straightforward, their original purposes often come with a surprising – and sometimes unsettling – twist.

Chainsaws Weren’t Always for Cutting Trees

You’d think chainsaws were invented to make logging easier. After all, chopping down trees with axes and hand saws was hard work.

So it makes perfect sense someone would create a faster, more efficient solution, right?

Well… not exactly.

Brace yourself

Chainsaws were originally invented for childbirth.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Back in 1785, two Scottish doctors devised a tool to assist with a specific medical procedure related to delivering babies.

A Brutal Tool for a Difficult Birth

The procedure involved cutting through the pelvic bone to create more space for the baby to pass through.

Before the advent of modern surgical techniques, this was seen as a way to reduce risk during obstructed labor.

Not the Chainsaw You’re Thinking Of

Thankfully, it wasn’t the roaring, gas-powered chainsaw we know today.

The original version was hand-cranked, much smaller, and far less terrifying—though still grim in its purpose.

It allowed doctors to saw through bone with more precision than a knife.

A Turning Point in Medical History

While it sounds horrifying now, this invention actually saved lives at the time by making complicated births less dangerous.

Still, it’s easy to see why the thought of it might make modern readers a little queasy.

Enter the C-Section

The gruesome practice didn’t last forever.

With the development of the Cesarean section, this method of widening the birth canal by sawing bone was phased out.

A New Job

It wasn’t until the early 20th century that chainsaws found their way into forests.

Once combustion engines were advanced enough to be miniaturized, engineers began adapting the tool for lumber use—and its new identity was born.

From Surgery to the Hollywood

By the time the modern chainsaw became widely available, its origin story was already fading into obscurity.

Most people today associate it with logging, carpentry, or even horror films—not childbirth.

A Familiar Sound

So next time you hear the buzz of a chainsaw, you might remember its grisly origins …