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Not Tropeworthy: An Axe To Grind

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To-do list:

Original post:

An Axe To Grind is, per its own laconic, about "the use of an axe as a weapon". Right out of the gate, that's very straightforward case of chairs. The description is kind of all over the place, and essentially tries to describe both the historical use of axes as weapons and all possible roles that they may be given in fiction. This helps with sorting examples, since a number of basic roles are described:

More broadly, these mostly fall into four groups:

  • Axes are used by barbaric, warlike or savage groups or people.
  • Axes are used by strong, tough people.
  • Axes are both a weapon and a tool and used by people who also use them for something else, or who need to improvise.
  • Axes are used by certain cultural groups.

Now, for the examples.

    On-Page 

Anime/Manga

Card games

Comics

Fanfic

Animated Film

Live-Action Film

Literature

Live-Action TV

Music

Mythology & Religion

  • Thor with an axe.
  • Just axes.
  • Just axes.

Pinball

Podcasts]

Professional Wrestling

  • Executioner's axe.
  • Just axes.
  • Just axes.

Tabletop Games

Theme Parks

Toys

Video Games

Visual Novels

Webcomics

Web Original

Western Animation

  • Dwarves with axes: 16/562 (2.8%)
  • Orcs with axes: 6/562 (1.1%)
  • Minotaurs with axes: 2/562 (.4%)
Collected Fantastic Race Weapon Affinity examples: 24/262 (9.2%)
  • Vikings with axes: 23/562 (4.1%)
  • Berserkers with axes: 4/562 (.7%)
  • Generic barbarians with axes: 15/562 (2.7%)
Collected barbarian examples, also counting orcs: 48/562 (8.5%)
  • Big Guys/Mighty Glaciers with axes: 7/562 (1.2%)
  • Executioners with axes: 6/562 (1%)
  • Improvised-weapon axes: 24/562 (9.2%)
  • Lumberjacks with axes: 2/562 (.4%)
  • Axe murderers: 39/562 (6.9%)
  • ZCEs: 31/562 (5.5%)
  • Just axes: 378/562 (67.3%)

Edit: Added an inbound check.

    Off-Page 

  • Axes exist: 40/75 (53.3%)
  • ZCEs: 28/75 (37.3%)
  • Axe murderers: 3/75 (4%)
  • Barbarians use axes: 2/75 (2.7%)
  • Giants with axes: 2/75 (2.7%)
  • Executioner's axes: 1/75 (1.3%)

The results are if anything more extreme; chairs and ZCEs strongly dominate this list.

This page as it currently is doesn't have an identity other than "axes exist", which isn't a trope. I don't think that it's worth keeping outside of a disambig. However, there are a few more or less clear patterns within it, whose examples can either be reassigned to other tropes we already have or extracted as new ones. Specifically:

  • Examples where someone grabs a random wood axe as an improvised weapon can be moved to, well, Improvised Weapon.
  • The dwarf with axes/orc with axes examples can be moved to Fantastic Race Weapon Affinity.
  • The examples where barbaric factions, races or characters use axes can easily be collated into their own trope (Axes Of Barbarism? Barbaric Axes?)
  • Axe Murderer can probably also be made into a trope of its own.
  • It might be possible to create a trope about how Mighty Glaciers and physically imposing characters tend to use weapons like axes, hammers and maces? That would require digging through some other weapon tropes, though.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Dec 2nd 2022 at 4:41:58 AM

Theriocephalus Amateur Veteran from gimme a map and a moment and I can tell you Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: I made a point to burn all of the photographs
Amateur Veteran
#1: Sep 13th 2022 at 4:05:57 PM

To-do list:

Original post:

An Axe To Grind is, per its own laconic, about "the use of an axe as a weapon". Right out of the gate, that's very straightforward case of chairs. The description is kind of all over the place, and essentially tries to describe both the historical use of axes as weapons and all possible roles that they may be given in fiction. This helps with sorting examples, since a number of basic roles are described:

More broadly, these mostly fall into four groups:

  • Axes are used by barbaric, warlike or savage groups or people.
  • Axes are used by strong, tough people.
  • Axes are both a weapon and a tool and used by people who also use them for something else, or who need to improvise.
  • Axes are used by certain cultural groups.

Now, for the examples.

    On-Page 

Anime/Manga

Card games

Comics

Fanfic

Animated Film

Live-Action Film

Literature

Live-Action TV

Music

Mythology & Religion

  • Thor with an axe.
  • Just axes.
  • Just axes.

Pinball

Podcasts]

Professional Wrestling

  • Executioner's axe.
  • Just axes.
  • Just axes.

Tabletop Games

Theme Parks

Toys

Video Games

Visual Novels

Webcomics

Web Original

Western Animation

  • Dwarves with axes: 16/562 (2.8%)
  • Orcs with axes: 6/562 (1.1%)
  • Minotaurs with axes: 2/562 (.4%)
Collected Fantastic Race Weapon Affinity examples: 24/262 (9.2%)
  • Vikings with axes: 23/562 (4.1%)
  • Berserkers with axes: 4/562 (.7%)
  • Generic barbarians with axes: 15/562 (2.7%)
Collected barbarian examples, also counting orcs: 48/562 (8.5%)
  • Big Guys/Mighty Glaciers with axes: 7/562 (1.2%)
  • Executioners with axes: 6/562 (1%)
  • Improvised-weapon axes: 24/562 (9.2%)
  • Lumberjacks with axes: 2/562 (.4%)
  • Axe murderers: 39/562 (6.9%)
  • ZCEs: 31/562 (5.5%)
  • Just axes: 378/562 (67.3%)

Edit: Added an inbound check.

    Off-Page 

  • Axes exist: 40/75 (53.3%)
  • ZCEs: 28/75 (37.3%)
  • Axe murderers: 3/75 (4%)
  • Barbarians use axes: 2/75 (2.7%)
  • Giants with axes: 2/75 (2.7%)
  • Executioner's axes: 1/75 (1.3%)

The results are if anything more extreme; chairs and ZCEs strongly dominate this list.

This page as it currently is doesn't have an identity other than "axes exist", which isn't a trope. I don't think that it's worth keeping outside of a disambig. However, there are a few more or less clear patterns within it, whose examples can either be reassigned to other tropes we already have or extracted as new ones. Specifically:

  • Examples where someone grabs a random wood axe as an improvised weapon can be moved to, well, Improvised Weapon.
  • The dwarf with axes/orc with axes examples can be moved to Fantastic Race Weapon Affinity.
  • The examples where barbaric factions, races or characters use axes can easily be collated into their own trope (Axes Of Barbarism? Barbaric Axes?)
  • Axe Murderer can probably also be made into a trope of its own.
  • It might be possible to create a trope about how Mighty Glaciers and physically imposing characters tend to use weapons like axes, hammers and maces? That would require digging through some other weapon tropes, though.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Dec 2nd 2022 at 4:41:58 AM

Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#2: Sep 13th 2022 at 7:24:38 PM

The on-page check of examples doesn't look promising for the trope. Do you have an investigation of a selection of off-page wicks?

badtothebaritone (Life not ruined yet) Relationship Status: Snooping as usual
#3: Sep 13th 2022 at 7:38:57 PM

There are a ton of weapon tropes that have similar issues, like Powerful Pick and Shovel Strike, Blade On A Stick, and Whip It Good. Even more specific tropes like Drop The Hammer (a character uses a hammer as their signature weapon) are generally used whenever weapons of those types are used at all, whether they really fit the trope or not.

Edited by badtothebaritone on Sep 13th 2022 at 9:43:29 AM

MorganWick (Elder Troper)
#4: Sep 13th 2022 at 8:02:44 PM

Previous TRS threads, and apparently this was also covered on a larger thread about weapons tropes that tend to verge on chairs.

themayorofsimpleton Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him from Elsewhere (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Abstaining
Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him
#5: Sep 13th 2022 at 8:02:45 PM

If we do an off-page check, we'd be checking 74 wicks, for the record.

EDIT: Here's the original YKTTW for reference

Edited by themayorofsimpleton on Sep 13th 2022 at 11:04:22 AM

TRS Queue | Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
How sweet it is
#6: Sep 13th 2022 at 8:27:50 PM

A check for off-page example could help, but if it's as all over the place as the on-page examples, the trope's fate doesn't really look good.

I'll preemptively vote for a disambiguate and split, going by the check that was done.

Edited by Berrenta on Sep 13th 2022 at 10:28:13 AM

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
badtothebaritone (Life not ruined yet) Relationship Status: Snooping as usual
#7: Sep 13th 2022 at 8:39:28 PM

If we're going to do a "barbarian people with axes" trope, I think Barbarian Battleaxe would be a better name.

Theriocephalus Amateur Veteran from gimme a map and a moment and I can tell you Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: I made a point to burn all of the photographs
Amateur Veteran
#8: Sep 13th 2022 at 9:12:46 PM

Did an off-page check of 75 examples and added it to the OP.

themayorofsimpleton Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him from Elsewhere (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Abstaining
Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him
#9: Sep 13th 2022 at 9:31:12 PM

Looking at the results, evidently there's a big problem here. This trope seems to be covering several concepts in one, and the off-page check indicates that many examples are "axes exist" anyway.

As with Berrenta, I support a split/splits and disambig.

Edited by themayorofsimpleton on Sep 13th 2022 at 12:31:29 PM

TRS Queue | Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
WarJay77 Big Catch, Sparkle Edition (Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#10: Sep 13th 2022 at 9:32:56 PM

Splits/disambig, just like with Knife Nut

Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
kundoo from the land of Mordor where the shadows lie Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: What is this thing you call love?
#11: Sep 13th 2022 at 9:44:40 PM

[tup]Disambig

You didn't see anything.
Orbiting Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
#12: Sep 13th 2022 at 9:52:31 PM

Disambig and split

Adept (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#13: Sep 13th 2022 at 11:24:31 PM

Split and disambig.

I'm sure that there can be a lot of tropes that can be spun off from axes, but as it currently stands, it's just "axes exist".

randomtroper89 from The Fire Nation Since: Nov, 2010
#14: Sep 14th 2022 at 12:43:58 AM

I'll concur to disambig

Noaqiyeum Trans Siberian Anarchestra (it/they) from the gentle and welcoming dark (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
Trans Siberian Anarchestra (it/they)
#15: Sep 14th 2022 at 1:12:51 AM

Split and disambiguate. Axe Murderer is almost certainly tropable - it's slightly less iconic but more idiomatic than Hockey Mask and Chainsaw.

Axes at School should probably be part of the disambiguation page; it's no longer axe-specific, but it used to be. (Odd that that has its own functioning trope when all the others are grouped together.)

The Revolution Will Not Be Tropeable
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#16: Sep 14th 2022 at 2:34:59 AM

Split off Barbraian Axe. Viking Axes would fit Horny Vikings if it's a part of their standard equimpent. Not sure what to do with dwarfs, minotaurs and serial killers yet.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
GastonRabbit Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#17: Sep 14th 2022 at 4:23:24 AM

Disambig and Yard/split off Barbarian Axe (depending on whether we already have enough examples to split off).

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#18: Sep 14th 2022 at 4:33:06 AM

I've missed Fantastic Race Weapon Affinity, so fantastical uses may go there, which already has "Orcs and other Barbarian Races".

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
GastonRabbit Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#19: Sep 14th 2022 at 5:11:40 AM

[up]We can disambiguate between that, Barbarian Axe, and Weapon Specialization (I forgot Weapon Of Choice's split was already done; I probably had that thread confused with The Cameo, whose split I don't think has been finished yet, but I could be mistaken). Maybe we could also throw Weapon-Based Characterization in there as well (Barbarian Axe might be a subtrope of that since it indicates the barbarian's nature).

Edited by GastonRabbit on Sep 14th 2022 at 7:12:27 AM

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#20: Sep 14th 2022 at 6:16:42 AM

Split and disambig.

Ukrainian Red Cross
Theriocephalus Amateur Veteran from gimme a map and a moment and I can tell you Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: I made a point to burn all of the photographs
Amateur Veteran
#21: Sep 14th 2022 at 7:35:39 AM

Disambig and Yard/split off Barbarian Axe (depending on whether we already have enough examples to split off).

If we count Vikings and orcs as part of the "Barbarian" category, which I would, I counted just under fifty examples.

On that note, I like badtothebaritone idea of using "Barbarian Battleaxe" as a name.

Edited by Theriocephalus on Sep 14th 2022 at 9:35:57 AM

GastonRabbit Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#22: Sep 14th 2022 at 7:47:16 AM

[up]In that case, I'm in favor of splitting off Barbarian Axe right away instead of Yarding it. We can sandbox those examples and write a description to go along with them.

I think Tropes Are Flexible means the trope would apply to barbaric characters in general even if they aren't explicitly called barbarians.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Sep 14th 2022 at 9:48:00 AM

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Yindee Just stoic wisdom. from New England Since: Jul, 2016
Just stoic wisdom.
#23: Sep 14th 2022 at 7:47:50 AM

Thirding Barbarian Battleaxe.

Vehicle-Based Characterization | Grief-Induced Split | Locker Mail
GastonRabbit Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#24: Sep 14th 2022 at 7:48:44 AM

[up]Now that you mention that name, I think Barbarian Battleaxe is a better name than Barbarian Axe. Not only is it catchier, it also better indicates that the axe is a weapon.

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Nen_desharu Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire from Greater Smash Bros. Universe or Toronto Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire
#25: Sep 14th 2022 at 8:08:19 AM

Barbarian Battleaxe sounds like a great name.

Kirby is awesome.

Trope Repair Shop: An Axe to Grind
18th Sep '22 6:22:51 PM

Crown Description:

Consensus was to make a supertrope for stock slasher weapons in general instead of just axes, as well as a trope for the use of axes by barbaric/barbarian characters. Should an axe-specific subtrope of the slasher weapon trope be split off as well, with the supertrope being exampleless due to the existence of other subtropes (such as Psycho Knife Nut), and should the trope for barbaric/barbarian axes allow weapons other than axes? The names would be decided with separate crowners. If the option for the axe murder trope does not have consensus, the supertrope will not be exampleless and the previously established consensus for that trope will still stand.

Total posts: 138
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