OK, let's look at the practicality of this. They would have to either: (a) unload the wood from the trailer and load it into their own conveyance, or (b) unhitch the trailer and hitch it to their own vehicle. Or maybe steal the guy's truck and the trailer.
Except for the latter possibility, these sound like major undertakings.
Seems to me that these "unsavory characters" were just blowing smoke. Notice that they didn't threaten the victim directly.
I would have just ignored them until they started to escalate. Then it would become a matter of self defense.
Yea that was my thought as well. A load of wood really isn't easy to steal and I am not really sure what these guys would have been thinking. But since what he has threatened is a felony, I am not sure about giving them the chance to make the next move though.