Scott has said about what can be said on the topic.  Just a couple of
additions and comments.

A spud would be better than what you are using.  Mine's about two feet
long and the end of the wooden handle is swelled into a pad almost as
big as a brace.  You can put your shoulder into one of these.

>  Its my contention that bark spuds were mostly invented for when you
> want to save the bark. When the bark itself is the desired product.

Yep.  In California mostly for barking oak trees for the tannin --
like Scott said, for tanning leather.

Lot's of folks use draw knives.  But the Russians (who, in case nobody
knew it, make log cabins, log lodges, log churches...) use a scorp.  
It's
about like planing with a scrub plane.

Mike in Sacto