The ax-head was a wedge with a sharpened edge that ran parallel to the haft. Furthermore, should the pick point pierce the chest cavity, even if the blow was not swiftly mortal, the small, deep wound that the pick head made was likely to become infected. Slanting and even horizontal strokes to the body trunk, although more awkward to perform, could also cause deadly injuries. The natural and most force-efficient method for wielding the pick was an overhead stroke, which meant that the head, shoulders, and frontal chest cavity of the opponent were the primary targets. The pick had a pointed head and was meant to puncture. The three weapons differed only in the impacting surface delivering the force and the type of damage that ensued. When the head struck an enemy, its speed and mass transferred sudden, intense pressure to a small area and thereby delivered a wound that could be either disabling or fatal, depending upon the part of the body struck. A wooden or bone haft, or handle, served as an extension of the user’s arm, so that the bone, horn, wood, stone, or metal head could be swung through a larger arc, thus acquiring more speed than could be achieved with the arm alone. Prehistoric picks, axes, and war hammers were variations on a single basic design. War hammers Picks Axes Shock weapons War hammers Picks Axes Shock weapons Like all members of this weaponry class, they are designed to be held rather than thrown and to multiply the amount of force that can be brought to bear upon an opponent, while also extending the warrior’s deadly range beyond the length of the arm. Picks, axes, and war hammers are shock weapons.
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