Category:Hand-axe

HAND AXE (slashing)
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Weight: ~3 kg
Rank(s): 1st row

        The hand axe or throwing axe is also known as 
a hatchet. The axe blade has a sharp steel tip, 
counterbalanced by a pointed fluke. The short handle 
has a point on the bottom and the head may have a spike
on top.
        This weapon is often used by barbarian tribes. 
Some hand axes are carried on the saddles of knights and 
horsemen, who respect this weapon after seeing barbarians
wield the axes effectively.
        Despite this acceptance by civilized folk, the 
throwing axe is often relegated to backup weapon status 
since the creation of the battleaxe, whose longer handle 
gives the wielder greater force in his swing. The maximum 
length of the hand axe's handle is about 18 inches, not very 
great, though better than a dagger's reach in hand-to-hand 
combat. The throwing axe's last advantage, its ability to be hurled, was eclipsed with the advent of better bows such as the long bow.
        Short races such as gnomes make good use of hand axes. 
The gnomes' traditional enemies, the kobolds, also use hand 
axes. The weapon's size is small enough to be wielded properly,
and it can be hurled as a last resort. Dwarves, of course, are 
far more interested in the heavier battleaxe.

Some skill(s) usable with the weapon:
  Axes, battlecry, bladed Fury, cleave, lure and reaving.

See also:
  Cleaver, aklys, tomahawk, battleaxe and great axe.