Rusty, I split Joe torsos by cutting the seam at the arm to neck, then arm pit to the bottom. Always use a sharp blde on your exacto knife. Then the other side can be pried open with a screwdriver. Some people put the figure in a sock with the top folded down to double up on the arm area leaving the top of the head poking out. Then put the sock and figure in a small bench vice with each arm against the plates of the vice. tighten down until you hear a pop, loosen the vice and your torso and arms will be in the sock. Good luck and if you use the first way please be careful and always cut away from yourself. If it feels sketchy try something else you can cut yourself badly.
