I've done some experiments with my axe and sword. And the conclusion I've come to is that it does have some utility in limited scenarios.
The initial guard I adopted with these weapons was left foot leading with the sword chambered in Vom tag and the axe in pflug, because the axe has no guard defensive actions are limited to cutting into your adverseries weapon while passing in with an oberhau with the sword.
I've also dropped the axe into a hanging guard, what Silver called Bastard Guardant to ward a blow or thrust again while attacking with the sword to the high line.
In Kreig at the bind provided your adversary is armed single, that is he only has a sword you can do alot of damage to the lowline with your axe again this presupposes he has nothing to parry you with and doesnt wind at the sword.
In my own experiments these actions are reliant on an aggressive opponent, and Ringeck warns about the consequences of relying too
much on defense. So the axe and sword combination become much like English Broadsword in that you advance under guard and rely heavily on being able to parry. the actions are also more linear than I personally like and while much has been made of "hooking" with the axe. I've found this to be dangerous, first because from the bind your man can wind and thrust you through the shoulder/back as you lean in to hew with the axe,slipping the leg and outreaching you, because of the length of the weapon. Second if he disengages your sword he can strike your exposed arm again by outreaching your lowline attack.
However, on the subject of double armed fighting I have found one great method that does work well to prevent a larger man from grappling you in longsword bouts as well as for getting out of binds quickly, with what I call a "backyard berserkr", keep a small knife/dagger simulator. Bind hard at the sword, the average backyard berserkr will meet force with force, and their ox like strength is amazing, now draw your knife/dagger with your left and slice his wrists and any other openings hes forgotten while trying to bulldoze his way over you, if he drops his sword to grapple in kreig so much the better, slice him
The words of Christ to Judas at the last supper apply here: "That thou doest...Do it quickly"
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
This technique may seem like cheating...and it technically is...but always remember this little rhyme:
"Goodness is no virtue, when some (blank) is trying to hurt you"
The frontier moves with the sun and pushes the Red Man of these wilderness forests in front of it... until one day there will be nowhere left. Then our race will be no more, or be not us.
My Sword Is my Troth.
~Iron Wolf Forge~