Battleaxe - Revision history

Sdhjk: /* Types of Battleaxe */

2025-10-04T19:50:52Z

Types of Battleaxe

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 4 October 2025
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	*'''Bardiche''': Standing on the line between battle axes and glaives is the Russian Bardiche. Used by the Streltsy (troops armed with firearms) as a close combat weapon and as a stand to brace their otherwise cumbersome fire arms on.		*'''Bardiche''': Standing on the line between battle axes and glaives is the Russian Bardiche. Used by the Streltsy (troops armed with firearms) as a close combat weapon and as a stand to brace their otherwise cumbersome fire arms on.

	*'''Military shovel (AKA "Entrenching Tool" or "E-Tool"'''): Not strictly an axe, but I doubt anyone who's got his head split in half by one is going to be able to argue the difference. It's what you get when you take the broad metal head (preferably sharpened) on a long handle (for a shovel) or a short one (for a spade) and swing the head edge-first at people, effectively turning your humble digging tool into an ersatz but perfectly serviceable axe. During World War I, originally expected to last only a few months in a Napoleon-style clash of armies on the open field, bogged down into the bloody quagmire of trench warfare on the Western Front, the Entrenching Tool (actually a spade) become one of the most important tools a soldier could carry, as the ability to quickly dig a machine gun into place or create a foxhole to shelter from the near-constant artillery fire became a necessity. When attacking enemy trenches, soldiers found that their long rifles with bayonets (created for the purpose of turning a musket into a spear to ward off now-obsolete cavalry charges) too long to be of use, so many of them quickly took their shovels and sharpened one edge to assist in close quarters fighting. Although still used by soldiers primarily for digging trenches and constructing fortifications in the field, the military shovel still finds use as an improvised weapon on occasion, and it helps that sharpening one or both edges of a spade's metal head doesn't hurt its ability to dig foxholes or trenches. More than a few insurgents got their heads split apart by combat engineers they foolishly charged. If you're still not convinced just know that commandos and spec ops, no matter the nation, still have extended training courses in how to use (amongst others) an e-tool as weapon even today. So go ahead and model your artillery-and-trench-loving [[Death Korps of Krieg]] troopers with sharpened spades in one hand so they can [[Awesome\|split the heads of heretics and Xenos]] for a period-accurate and awesome-looking conversion!		*'''Military shovel (AKA "Entrenching Tool" or "E-Tool"'''): Not strictly an axe, but I doubt anyone who's got his head split in half by one is going to be able to argue the difference. It's what you get when you take the broad metal head (preferably sharpened) on a long handle (for a shovel) or a short one (for a spade) and swing the head edge-first at people, effectively turning your humble digging tool into an ersatz but perfectly serviceable axe. It also helps, that sharpened shovel can be used to stab - essentially turning all-around-sharpened shovel into ersatz glaive. During World War I, originally expected to last only a few months in a Napoleon-style clash of armies on the open field, bogged down into the bloody quagmire of trench warfare on the Western Front, the Entrenching Tool (actually a spade) become one of the most important tools a soldier could carry, as the ability to quickly dig a machine gun into place or create a foxhole to shelter from the near-constant artillery fire became a necessity. When attacking enemy trenches, soldiers found that their long rifles with bayonets (created for the purpose of turning a musket into a spear to ward off now-obsolete cavalry charges) too long to be of use, so many of them quickly took their shovels and sharpened one edge to assist in close quarters fighting. Although still used by soldiers primarily for digging trenches and constructing fortifications in the field, the military shovel still finds use as an improvised weapon on occasion, and it helps that sharpening one or both edges of a spade's metal head doesn't hurt its ability to dig foxholes or trenches. More than a few insurgents got their heads split apart by combat engineers they foolishly charged. If you're still not convinced just know that commandos and spec ops, no matter the nation, still have extended training courses in how to use (amongst others) an e-tool as weapon even today. So go ahead and model your artillery-and-trench-loving [[Death Korps of Krieg]] troopers with sharpened spades in one hand so they can [[Awesome\|split the heads of heretics and Xenos]] for a period-accurate and awesome-looking conversion!

	==Double-Headed or Double-Bitted Axes: What A Real Battleaxe Never Looks Like==		==Double-Headed or Double-Bitted Axes: What A Real Battleaxe Never Looks Like==

imported>Administrator: 87 revisions imported

2023-06-17T22:24:03Z

87 revisions imported

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:24, 17 June 2023
(No difference)

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:B1DB:DD21:1188:2216 at 14:40, 7 June 2023

2023-06-07T14:40:38Z

1d4chan>A Walrus at 07:43, 10 May 2022

2022-05-10T07:43:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:43, 10 May 2022
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	A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes).		A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes).

	Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as ~~1 lb~~, two-handed ones were usually between only 2 ~~lb and 4 lb~~. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, making these weapons nimbler than their woodcutting cousins.		Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as 0.5kg, two-handed ones were usually between only 1 to 2 kg. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, making these weapons nimbler than their woodcutting cousins.

	While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.		While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.

90.227.146.119 at 04:06, 10 May 2022

2022-05-10T04:06:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:06, 10 May 2022
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	[[image:Battleaxe.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|A Battleaxe]]		[[image:Battleaxe.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|A Battleaxe]]
	A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes). Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as 1 lb, two-handed ones were usually between only 2 lb and 4 lb. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, making these weapons nimbler than their woodcutting cousins.		A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes).

			Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as 1 lb, two-handed ones were usually between only 2 lb and 4 lb. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, making these weapons nimbler than their woodcutting cousins.

	While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.		While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.

90.227.146.119 at 04:01, 10 May 2022

2022-05-10T04:01:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:01, 10 May 2022
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	[[image:Battleaxe.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|A Battleaxe]]		[[image:Battleaxe.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|A Battleaxe]]
	A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes). Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as 1 lb, ~~even~~ two-handed ~~(so called Dane) axes~~ were usually between only 2 lb and 4 lb. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, making these weapons nimbler than their woodcutting cousins.		A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes). Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as 1 lb, two-handed ones were usually between only 2 lb and 4 lb. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, making these weapons nimbler than their woodcutting cousins.

	While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.		While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.

90.227.146.119 at 04:00, 10 May 2022

2022-05-10T04:00:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:00, 10 May 2022
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	[[image:Battleaxe.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|A Battleaxe]]		[[image:Battleaxe.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|A Battleaxe]]
	A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes). Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as 1 lb, even two-handed (so called Dane) axes were usually between only 2 lb and 4 lb. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, ~~leading to a more nimble weapon~~.		A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes). Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as 1 lb, even two-handed (so called Dane) axes were usually between only 2 lb and 4 lb. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, making these weapons nimbler than their woodcutting cousins.

	While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.		While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.

90.227.146.119 at 03:59, 10 May 2022

2022-05-10T03:59:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:59, 10 May 2022
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	[[image:Battleaxe.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|A Battleaxe]]		[[image:Battleaxe.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|A Battleaxe]]
	A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes). Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity.		A '''Battleaxe''' is an axe intended for battle (duh). Wherever there were trees and a need to chop firewood, people found an abundant need for axes. In a fight an axe will chop through a leg or a skull just as it would a log, so people took them along to war (and indeed, probably a lot more poor and desperate people throughout the ages just took their woodcutting axes with them to battle than actual battleaxes). Once it was established that they were good weapons, axe-makers began to make axes specifically to be weapons, tweaking the design to better serve in that capacity. One crucial difference between tool and weapon is weight, or to be precise a lack of: one-handed battleaxes could weight as little as 1 lb, even two-handed (so called Dane) axes were usually between only 2 lb and 4 lb. This was usually achieved by making the axe head thinner, leading to a more nimble weapon.

	While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.		While there is nothing wrong with [[sword]]s and [[mace]]s, battleaxes are the go-to weapon for your average [[Dwarf]] in most fantasy settings. [[Viking]]s also are famous for their use of battleaxes, particularly because it was the weapon commonly associated with the legendary Viking [[Warriors of Chaos\|bezerkers]], though again they were generally perfectly fine using swords and [[spear]]s. Axes however are nonetheless mentioned as respected weapons in Old Norse poetry. For example, some poems associated with the legendary Geatish King Dag Spaka (Dag the Wise) mentions the king's incredible and peerless skill with a battleaxe, which is significant given that swords are often thought to be a king's weapon in Germanic societies. Indeed, the axe is quite important also in ancient Scandinavian culture, though not to the extent of swords.

1d4chan>Piroko: /* Battleaxes in warfare */

2022-03-25T19:36:12Z

Battleaxes in warfare

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:36, 25 March 2022
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	In desperate situations axe could be thrown, but unless this particular axe was designed to be thrown and the wielder was specifically trained to throw axes results are usually quite poor. However with proper training and design throwing axes are quite devastating, able to one-hit-kill or at least cripple a man even through shield and heavy armour - something arrows and javelins are unable to do.		In desperate situations axe could be thrown, but unless this particular axe was designed to be thrown and the wielder was specifically trained to throw axes results are usually quite poor. However with proper training and design throwing axes are quite devastating, able to one-hit-kill or at least cripple a man even through shield and heavy armour - something arrows and javelins are unable to do.

	Today, battle axes are still used in modern military applications, usually taking the form of hatchets or tomahawks, and are built as multi-purpose tools that can be effective as both a tool for helping with labor or as a weapon for chopping some unlucky sod's head off. They're particularly significant on the Korean DMZ, ever since ~~a pair of guards~~ were murdered with axes over a dispute about clearing a tree; ever since, guards from both sides have often brought axes and axe handles to standoffs.		Today, battle axes are still used in modern military applications, usually taking the form of hatchets or tomahawks, and are built as multi-purpose tools that can be effective as both a tool for helping with labor or as a weapon for chopping some unlucky sod's head off. They're particularly significant on the Korean DMZ, ever since two officers were murdered with axes over a dispute about clearing a tree; ever since, guards from both sides have often brought axes and axe handles to standoffs.

	== Types of Battleaxe ==		== Types of Battleaxe ==

1d4chan>Piroko: /* Battleaxes in warfare */

2022-03-25T16:09:13Z

Battleaxes in warfare

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 25 March 2022
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	In desperate situations axe could be thrown, but unless this particular axe was designed to be thrown and the wielder was specifically trained to throw axes results are usually quite poor. However with proper training and design throwing axes are quite devastating, able to one-hit-kill or at least cripple a man even through shield and heavy armour - something arrows and javelins are unable to do.		In desperate situations axe could be thrown, but unless this particular axe was designed to be thrown and the wielder was specifically trained to throw axes results are usually quite poor. However with proper training and design throwing axes are quite devastating, able to one-hit-kill or at least cripple a man even through shield and heavy armour - something arrows and javelins are unable to do.

	Today, battle axes are still used in modern military applications, usually taking the form of hatchets or tomahawks, and are built as multi-purpose tools that can be effective as both a tool for helping with labor or as a weapon for chopping some unlucky sod's head off.		Today, battle axes are still used in modern military applications, usually taking the form of hatchets or tomahawks, and are built as multi-purpose tools that can be effective as both a tool for helping with labor or as a weapon for chopping some unlucky sod's head off. They're particularly significant on the Korean DMZ, ever since a pair of guards were murdered with axes over a dispute about clearing a tree; ever since, guards from both sides have often brought axes and axe handles to standoffs.

	== Types of Battleaxe ==		== Types of Battleaxe ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:40, 7 June 2023
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	== Battleaxes in warfare ==		== Battleaxes in warfare ==
	Axes are bloody old, almost as old as [[mace\|maces]]. Both are "mass weapons," but the main difference is that an axe focuses the kinetic power of the swing into a sharpened edge while the mace strikes with pure concussive force.		Axes are bloody old, almost as old as [[mace\|maces]]. Both are "mass weapons," but the main difference is that an axe focuses the kinetic power of the swing into a sharpened edge while the mace strikes with pure concussive force.

	An axe is a heavy bladed wedge of hardened material on the end of a handle (lever), utilizing two simple machines. It does damage by swinging that bit into the foe at high speed. On impact it delivers a lot of kinetic energy to a concentrated point with a cutting edge to drive it deep as possible. This can chop through shield, muscle, bone and armor. Even if it does not go through armor, its blunt force trauma can shatter bones. Battleaxes are great at killing people quickly, as their hits not only wound but also shock and cripple target, while mortal wounds from swords, spears or bows usually do not kill the target instantly, allowing it to strike few final blows before passing down.		An axe is a heavy bladed wedge of hardened material on the end of a handle (lever), utilizing two simple machines. It does damage by swinging that bit into the foe at high speed. On impact it delivers a lot of kinetic energy to a concentrated point with a cutting edge to drive it deep as possible. This can chop through shield, muscle, bone and armor. Even if it does not go through armor, its blunt force trauma can shatter bones. Battleaxes are great at killing people quickly, as their hits not only wound but also shock and cripple target, while mortal wounds from swords, spears or bows usually do not kill the target instantly, allowing it to strike few final blows before passing down.
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	Battleaxes are generally poorly balanced, meaning you cannot control them as well as swords, and generally should swing them around keeping momentum instead of making swings and thrusts and then quickly returning it to defensive position, like swords. This means axes are terrible at defense - not because they cannot parry, but because they cannot quickly switch between parrying and attacking. This problem, however, is easily solved by taking a shield in the other hand. Axes also tend to stick inside armour, shields or just [[RIP AND TEAR\|enemy bones]], unlike mauls and warhammers which are also good against heavily armoured targets. An axe's pole is usually much tougher than one on a [[spear]] or a [[polearm]], sometimes with a metal core, since it isn't as long and, as a mass weapon, it needs less finesse to handle.		Battleaxes are generally poorly balanced, meaning you cannot control them as well as swords, and generally should swing them around keeping momentum instead of making swings and thrusts and then quickly returning it to defensive position, like swords. This means axes are terrible at defense - not because they cannot parry, but because they cannot quickly switch between parrying and attacking. This problem, however, is easily solved by taking a shield in the other hand. Axes also tend to stick inside armour, shields or just [[RIP AND TEAR\|enemy bones]], unlike mauls and warhammers which are also good against heavily armoured targets. An axe's pole is usually much tougher than one on a [[spear]] or a [[polearm]], sometimes with a metal core, since it isn't as long and, as a mass weapon, it needs less finesse to handle.

	Axes are also quite cheap compared to swords, though not as cheap as spears. Axe heads need much less metal than swords, but also require a good smith, unless you're pretty OK with your axe blunting after the few hits. Speaking of which, blunted, chipped or otherwise damaged axes are still quite a dangerous weapons, unlike spears, swords or daggers, so along with mauls they tend to be popular amongst those who cannot afford or assess a proper smith. Unlike swords and spears, axes also could be used outside the battle to chop some wood or to construct a camp. As mentioned earlier, if you are a peasant there would typically be some wood axes around if you needed a weapon and had little money.		Axes are also quite cheap compared to swords, though not as cheap as spears. Axe heads need much less metal than swords, but also require a good smith, unless you're pretty OK with your axe blunting after the few hits. Speaking of which, blunted, chipped or otherwise damaged axes are still quite a dangerous weapons, unlike spears, swords or daggers, so along with mauls they tend to be popular amongst those who cannot afford or assess a proper smith. Unlike swords and spears, axes also could be used outside the battle to chop some wood or to construct a camp. As mentioned earlier, if you are a peasant there would typically be some wood axes around if you needed a weapon and had little money.

	In desperate situations axe could be thrown, but unless this particular axe was designed to be thrown and the wielder was specifically trained to throw axes results are usually quite poor. However with proper training and design throwing axes are quite devastating, able to one-hit-kill or at least cripple a man even through shield and heavy armour - something arrows and javelins are unable to do.		In desperate situations axe could be thrown, but unless this particular axe was designed to be thrown and the wielder was specifically trained to throw axes results are usually quite poor. However with proper training and design throwing axes are quite devastating, able to one-hit-kill or at least cripple a man even through shield and heavy armour - something arrows and javelins are unable to do.

	Today, battle axes are still used in modern military applications, usually taking the form of hatchets or tomahawks, and are built as multi-purpose tools that can be effective as both a tool for helping with labor or as a weapon for chopping some unlucky sod's head off. They're particularly significant on the Korean DMZ, ever since two officers were murdered with axes over a dispute about clearing a tree; ever since, guards from both sides have often brought axes and axe handles to standoffs.		Today, battle axes are still used in modern military applications, usually taking the form of hatchets or tomahawks, and are built as multi-purpose tools that can be effective as both a tool for helping with labor or as a weapon for chopping some unlucky sod's head off. They're particularly significant on the Korean DMZ, ever since two officers were murdered with axes over a dispute about clearing a tree; ever since, guards from both sides have often brought axes and axe handles to standoffs.

	== Types of Battleaxe ==		== Types of Battleaxe ==
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	*'''Poleaxe''': As the name suggests, it's an axe head on a pole, making it a form of [[pole-arm]]. In many respects, the poleaxe is the swiss-army knife of polearms. Compared to a halberd, it has a smaller head, which focuses kinetic energy onto a smaller area and lets it cut through armor more effectively. Typically used by amounted knights on foot to kill other armoured knights on foot. Also well known for having the most literature (eg. treatises) detailing its use surviving to the modern day, most probably because it was a ‘knightly’ weapon that demanded the attention of contemporary schools of combat. The spike on the end of the pole's butt also made it useful for thrusting attacks, and it could be used to block in the same way as a quarterstaff. A hammer or spike was typically mounted opposite to the axe head, as well as a spearhead (or another spike) for thrusting purposes. In short, if you wanted options when going into combat - particularly armored combat, the poleaxe would serve you well.		*'''Poleaxe''': As the name suggests, it's an axe head on a pole, making it a form of [[pole-arm]]. In many respects, the poleaxe is the swiss-army knife of polearms. Compared to a halberd, it has a smaller head, which focuses kinetic energy onto a smaller area and lets it cut through armor more effectively. Typically used by amounted knights on foot to kill other armoured knights on foot. Also well known for having the most literature (eg. treatises) detailing its use surviving to the modern day, most probably because it was a ‘knightly’ weapon that demanded the attention of contemporary schools of combat. The spike on the end of the pole's butt also made it useful for thrusting attacks, and it could be used to block in the same way as a quarterstaff. A hammer or spike was typically mounted opposite to the axe head, as well as a spearhead (or another spike) for thrusting purposes. In short, if you wanted options when going into combat - particularly armored combat, the poleaxe would serve you well.

	*'''Halberd''': Another pole-arm, differing from the poleaxe by typically being longer, as well as in the long spike on the top of the axe head and the hook on the back of the axe's blade, which was ideal for pulling a mounted [[knight]] off his horse. Sadly, unlike the poleaxe, no treatises or other forms of literature detailing its use still exist today. It could be used as a [[spear]] as well as an axe in close quarters. Unlike the poleaxe, the halberd saw most of its usage by unarmored infantry, most notably Swiss mercenaries (even the Swiss Guard today uses halberds to guard the pope, albeit ceremonially).		*'''Halberd''': Another pole-arm, differing from the poleaxe by typically being longer, as well as in the long spike on the top of the axe head and the hook on the back of the axe's blade, which was ideal for pulling a mounted [[knight]] off his horse. Sadly, unlike the poleaxe, no treatises or other forms of literature detailing its use still exist today. It could be used as a [[spear]] as well as an axe in close quarters. Unlike the poleaxe, the halberd saw most of its usage by unarmored infantry, most notably Swiss mercenaries (even the Swiss Guard today uses halberds to guard the pope, albeit ceremonially).

	*'''Danish Axe''': An early battleaxe with a single-edged blade with pronounced "horns" at the top and bottom of the blade that was held in two hands, also known as a Viking axe. Particularly associated with more warrior elites types throughout Europe in its time, which kinda makes sense since far poorer fighters would probably prefer to compensate for their lack of armor by using a shield. Its blade was rather light and it had similar proportions to a modern meat cleaver, making it excellent for cutting through flesh and bone-the Bayeux Tapestry depicts a warrior decapitating a Norman knight's horse with one blow using it. It also seems to portray them as being wielded "left-handed" with the left hand being the closer one to the head, presumedly to better guide the axe past an opponent's shield which was almost certainly held in their left hand and thus opposite to their adversary's left.		*'''Danish Axe''': An early battleaxe with a single-edged blade with pronounced "horns" at the top and bottom of the blade that was held in two hands, also known as a Viking axe. Particularly associated with more warrior elites types throughout Europe in its time, which kinda makes sense since far poorer fighters would probably prefer to compensate for their lack of armor by using a shield. Its blade was rather light and it had similar proportions to a modern meat cleaver, making it excellent for cutting through flesh and bone-the Bayeux Tapestry depicts a warrior decapitating a Norman knight's horse with one blow using it. It also seems to portray them as being wielded "left-handed" with the left hand being the closer one to the head, presumedly to better guide the axe past an opponent's shield which was almost certainly held in their left hand and thus opposite to their adversary's left.
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	*'''Francisca''': An early throwing axe used primarily by the Franks during the Early Middle Ages. The head is too heavy for it to be useful in melee combat and it's difficult to aim even compared to other throwing axes, but it doesn't need to be accurate- it's capable of causing injury with its weight alone, and it bounces when it hits the ground, giving it a nasty tendency to cripple anyone unfortunate enough to have their legs struck by a bouncing axe. They were commonly thrown in volleys to intimidate and weaken foes before a charge.		*'''Francisca''': An early throwing axe used primarily by the Franks during the Early Middle Ages. The head is too heavy for it to be useful in melee combat and it's difficult to aim even compared to other throwing axes, but it doesn't need to be accurate- it's capable of causing injury with its weight alone, and it bounces when it hits the ground, giving it a nasty tendency to cripple anyone unfortunate enough to have their legs struck by a bouncing axe. They were commonly thrown in volleys to intimidate and weaken foes before a charge.

	*'''Axe Pistol''': A wheellock or flintlock [[firearm\|pistol]] with an axe head attached to the end of the barrel used from the 16th to 19th centuries. Pistols of the time were single-shot and very short-ranged (you could only reliably hit a man-sized target up to 30 meters out before it became a complete crapshoot), so they often ended up being used in close quarters as clubs. Adding an axe head to a pistol meant that it had a critical edge over a regular pistol in a brawl, albeit at the cost of a bit more weight, being somewhat more unwieldy as both a pistol or a regular axe of similar size and a somewhat higher price tag than a regular pistol. Then again, the accuracy penalty and increased heft caused by fitting an axe head to the muzzle of a gun that was never intended for long-range shots, and required a lengthy reloading process after every shot, certainly won't be at the front of your mind when your enemies are at arm's length already, so the ability to hack them to pieces right after using your one shot will be very attractive. Axe pistols were used by both cavalry and by sailors.		*'''Axe Pistol''': A wheellock or flintlock [[firearm\|pistol]] with an axe head attached to the end of the barrel used from the 16th to 19th centuries. Pistols of the time were single-shot and very short-ranged (you could only reliably hit a man-sized target up to 30 meters out before it became a complete crapshoot), so they often ended up being used in close quarters as clubs. Adding an axe head to a pistol meant that it had a critical edge over a regular pistol in a brawl, albeit at the cost of a bit more weight, being somewhat more unwieldy as both a pistol or a regular axe of similar size and a somewhat higher price tag than a regular pistol. Then again, the accuracy penalty and increased heft caused by fitting an axe head to the muzzle of a gun that was never intended for long-range shots, and required a lengthy reloading process after every shot, certainly won't be at the front of your mind when your enemies are at arm's length already, so the ability to hack them to pieces right after using your one shot will be very attractive. Axe pistols were used by both cavalry and by sailors.

	*'''Bardiche''': Standing on the line between battle axes and glaives is the Russian Bardiche. Used by the Streltsy (troops armed with firearms) as a close combat weapon and as a stand to brace their otherwise cumbersome fire arms on.		*'''Bardiche''': Standing on the line between battle axes and glaives is the Russian Bardiche. Used by the Streltsy (troops armed with firearms) as a close combat weapon and as a stand to brace their otherwise cumbersome fire arms on.

	*'''Military shovel (AKA "Entrenching Tool" or "E-Tool"'''): Not strictly an axe, but I doubt anyone who's got his head split in half by one is going to be able to argue the difference. It's what you get when you take the broad metal head (preferably sharpened) on a long handle (for a shovel) or a short one (for a spade) and swing the head edge-first at people, effectively turning your humble digging tool into an ersatz but perfectly serviceable axe. During World War I, originally expected to last only a few months in a Napoleon-style clash of armies on the open field, bogged down into the bloody quagmire of trench warfare on the Western Front, the Entrenching Tool (actually a spade) become one of the most important tools a soldier could carry, as the ability to quickly dig a machine gun into place or create a foxhole to shelter from the near-constant artillery fire became a necessity. When attacking enemy trenches, soldiers found that their long rifles with bayonets (created for the purpose of turning a musket into a spear to ward off now-obsolete cavalry charges) too long to be of use, so many of them quickly took their shovels and sharpened one edge to assist in close quarters fighting. Although still used by soldiers primarily for digging trenches and constructing fortifications in the field, the military shovel still finds use as an improvised weapon on occasion, and it helps that sharpening one or both edges of a spade's metal head doesn't hurt its ability to dig foxholes or trenches. More than a few insurgents got their heads split apart by combat engineers they foolishly charged. If you're still not convinced just know that commandos and spec ops, no matter the nation, still have extended training courses in how to use (amongst others) an e-tool as weapon even today. So go ahead and model your artillery-and-trench-loving [[Death Korps of Krieg]] troopers with sharpened spades in one hand so they can [[Awesome\|split the heads of heretics and Xenos]] for a period-accurate and awesome-looking conversion!		*'''Military shovel (AKA "Entrenching Tool" or "E-Tool"'''): Not strictly an axe, but I doubt anyone who's got his head split in half by one is going to be able to argue the difference. It's what you get when you take the broad metal head (preferably sharpened) on a long handle (for a shovel) or a short one (for a spade) and swing the head edge-first at people, effectively turning your humble digging tool into an ersatz but perfectly serviceable axe. During World War I, originally expected to last only a few months in a Napoleon-style clash of armies on the open field, bogged down into the bloody quagmire of trench warfare on the Western Front, the Entrenching Tool (actually a spade) become one of the most important tools a soldier could carry, as the ability to quickly dig a machine gun into place or create a foxhole to shelter from the near-constant artillery fire became a necessity. When attacking enemy trenches, soldiers found that their long rifles with bayonets (created for the purpose of turning a musket into a spear to ward off now-obsolete cavalry charges) too long to be of use, so many of them quickly took their shovels and sharpened one edge to assist in close quarters fighting. Although still used by soldiers primarily for digging trenches and constructing fortifications in the field, the military shovel still finds use as an improvised weapon on occasion, and it helps that sharpening one or both edges of a spade's metal head doesn't hurt its ability to dig foxholes or trenches. More than a few insurgents got their heads split apart by combat engineers they foolishly charged. If you're still not convinced just know that commandos and spec ops, no matter the nation, still have extended training courses in how to use (amongst others) an e-tool as weapon even today. So go ahead and model your artillery-and-trench-loving [[Death Korps of Krieg]] troopers with sharpened spades in one hand so they can [[Awesome\|split the heads of heretics and Xenos]] for a period-accurate and awesome-looking conversion!

	==Double-Headed or Double-Bitted Axes: What A Real Battleaxe Never Looks Like==		==Double-Headed or Double-Bitted Axes: What A Real Battleaxe Never Looks Like==