Dwarves + axes... why?

[Endur]

Why the association between dwarves and axes?

Tolkien and Norse Mythology, I think.

 

[Mausul]

well...dwarves are expert miners - and (ancient) mining needs a lot of lumber to brace the shafts. so dwarves are natural born woodkillers - therefore the axe (and the aversion between them and the elves)

 

[Iku Rex]

"Baruk Khazad ai-menu!" (The Axes of the Dwarves are upon you!)

Animated weapons perhaps?

(The original battlecry is "Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu!" - "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!")

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I'll agree that it's in part from Norse folklore (Thor's hammer and whatnot) and Tolkien. Although, we do have Thorin Oakenshield using a magic sword, and gaining his name from the use of a club.

My current dwarf is uses a sword. It feels a little unnatural, but is a good change of pace.

 

[Bagpuss]

I wonder how they get all the wood for pit props if they didn't have experience with axes. :\

I think Mausul has hit the nail on the head.

 

[Odhanan]

In tolkienian fantasy, the opposition of dwarves and elves is an element explaining why dwarves wear axes. They cut trees to aliment the forge. There is also an element of strength and hardiness in a warhammer and an axe - weapons that are blunt and messy versus the nobility, beauty and smoothness of an elven sword. There is the archetype of the blacksmith that is present in the concept of dwarves (interestingly enough, a character like Hephaistos is physically twisted/short/ugly too). A blacksmith uses a hammer on the anvil. These are not the only elements of answer of course, not by a long shot.

What may be surprising however is to find so few dwarves with pikes and tools of mining as primary weapons. I've seen some players using them for their character, but not that often in game products or novels.

 

[Crothian]

They hate trees

 

[lukelightning]

My dwarf used a rapier, kukri, and daggers.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

My dwarf used a rapier, kukri, and daggers.

Casanunda?

 

[Tonguez]

well...dwarves are expert miners - and (ancient) mining needs a lot of lumber to brace the shafts. so dwarves are natural born woodkillers - therefore the axe (and the aversion between them and the elves)

Precisely and in fact my latest dwarf character is a Zerhacker (Treecutter) whose clan speciales in cutting the lumber used for bracing the mines and fueling the forges.

Now consider - the dwarfs with the most contact with the surface dwellers are the forgers (who use hammers) and the woodcutters (who use axes) hence the association in the minds of surface dwellers.
No doubt there are whole clans who specialise in fighting in confined spaces using short spears vs kobolds, however as most PC races don't dwell underground they don't see these spearweilding dwarfs too often