Got a Real-World Weapon or Armor Question? Mk. VII

[JaronK]

I was talking with a classmate about why axes are a more useful weapon than a military pick, and why the spikes on hammers and axes are just back up, armor penetrating weapons. The conclusion was that axes produced wider wounds, making it easier to kill people with. It does seem an odd phenomena, what with the opposite being true for piercing rapiers and slashing broadswords... but then that's because of the difference. I suspect that there is either no speed difference between a pick and an axe, or that the axe gets a speed advantage. First, am I right? And second, am I missing anything?

One very obvious thing is that axes were generally useful items that people had on them anyway. Picks less so. So your soldiers were more effective with an axe simply because they both had one and had more experience with one.

Also, against unarmored opponents it's easier to hit with something that has a wider blade... a swing that might have missed with a pick might still connect with the axe.

JaronK