Dwarves and Their Axes

I know, I know Gimli, but come on the concept is pretty baffling if you really think about it. Dwarves are, as a culture, focused on mining, smithing, and craft. Most dwarven communities are subterranean, and last I checked in all but the most gonzo weird fantasy settings trees don't commonly grow in cave networks. They use wood, sure, but it feels like axes wouldn't be common enough that they'd be the go-to adapt this tool to a weapon item. Historically that is how most weapons were developed, evolving from hunting or farming tools. As miners and smiths, to me at least, it would make so much more sense for dwarves to use military picks, warspades, and of course warhammers. I think early D&D got this right with the hammer +3, dwarven thrower being the iconic dwarven magic item.

Beyond Gimli, his namesake in Lodoss Senki Ghim, and Flint from Dragonlance, there is also the axe of the dwarvish lords. An artifact weapon from AD&D that is supposed to be the iconic dwarf artifact, but is really just kinda stupid.

There's also the issue with tunnel fighting, axes (and hammers) need wide areas to swing when thrusting weapons like short swords and spears would be better. A regiment of dwarves with roman shields, the front line armed with short swords and lines behind them with pikes. That is how you defend a tunnel. Ranged combat isn't really a problem with dwarven tunnel fighting, since they're too short to use any of the good bows, they're using crossbows and guns.

Anyway, what this means is that dwarves, especially mountain, deep, and gray dwarves, should use spears, warhammers, military picks, and short swords. There should be logging axes in your dwarven communities but every dwarf using a battleaxe just doesn't work.