>>212480967 (OP)
Hey OP I did some thinking on your question and crafted a response, please see below.
Solid question, my friend — and you’re not the first to wonder about that.
At first glance, it does seem odd: dwarves live in stone halls and mines, not forests — so why are they always depicted swinging axes like lumberjacks?
Here’s the breakdown:
⸻
1. Axes are tools and weapons — and dwarves are smiths
Dwarves in Tolkien’s legendarium are master metalworkers and stonecutters. The axe is a practical, multi-use tool that fits their culture perfectly:
• It works for mining and shaping stone.
• It’s easy to forge and maintain (which dwarves are good at).
• In battle, it delivers brutal power in close quarters — ideal for the tight tunnels of dwarf strongholds like Moria.
⸻
2. Fighting in tunnels? Swords are awkward. Axes shine.
Underground combat is close-range, chaotic, and constricted. Axes:
• Don’t need as much swing space as big swords.
• Can crush armor or cleave through orcish hide.
• Feel more “natural” in dwarven hands, especially in narrow halls and stairwells.
⸻
3. Cultural symbolism — it’s a pride thing
For dwarves, axes aren’t just weapons. They’re a cultural symbol:
• They represent craftsmanship, resilience, and strength.
• Dwarves like Gimli wield axes not just because they’re useful — but because they’re iconic. Like samurai with katanas or Mandalorians with jetpacks.
⸻
4. Dwarves don’t hate trees — they just don’t need them
While dwarves don’t build in wood, they still trade and travel aboveground. Gimli’s axe wasn’t made from Moria — it could’ve been crafted or acquired elsewhere. Plus, Tolkien never says dwarves are anti-tree — just that their homes and lifestyles don’t rely on them.
⸻
TL;DR:
Gimli has an axe not because he needs to chop trees, but because it’s the perfect dwarf weapon — powerful, practical, symbolic, and suited for underground warfare.
It’s a vibe. And it slaps.
