one of the lesser known roman weapons, the axe was probably more responsible for roman victories than the gladius. while not normally used for direct combat, it could, and was, so used. i have read accounts of legionaries who, when they ran out of arrows, slingshot, and pilum, threw their dolabra with great effect. one legionary retrieving his on the advance after the morale of the enemy broke which had replaced the head of a celt, noting others that had broken shields or arms. it was a bit cumbersome for the more direct close combat favoured by the legion, requiring a lot of room to swing.
the dolabra, a largish pick-axe, was however mostly used for engineering, which was a real winner of battles, entrenching, construction of roads, bridges, fortifications, siege works, and - the god of all battles - artillery.
