Axes should be viable weapons

[A Bat From Wuhan]

The Axe class of tools should get support through perks and books to be a viable primary weapon choice on par with spears, knives, clubs, etc.

I mean, take the fire axe, one of the most iconic zombie killing weapons behind the chainsaw and shotgun. And the Steel Axe looks like a viking war axe or something, not something you'd be chopping wood with.

I get that they likely haven't done so because an item that's both a tool and an effective weapons might be a bit OP, but you already have the sledgehammer, great for breaking down blocks and a weapon, and knives, used for harvesting animals and also a weapon. Would a good weapon that can also harvest wood be that insane?

Let me play as a zombie murdering lumberjack!

[OH! MY CAR]

I mean, the stone axe is pretty good with the lumberjack gloves on.

[Niuq]

Lumberjack gloves + tool perks makes the two handed axes very viable as melee weapons.

[8_Hussars]

It is already viable as a weapon.

The downside is balancing it against the other weapons and skills. Minor 69er, the dominate skill progresses faster so that other classes can realistically access the harvesting bonuses.

The Status Quo would not work as the axe would outpace all the other melee choices; even the ones in the Strength tree.

[FaPaThY]

I use a mod called Tool Fighter for that. Increases base tool stats a bit, and adds stamina on kill/increased attack speed for tools to skills.

There's also another called Tool Time, which improves tool combat through magazine perks instead, but it was a bit too OP when I tried it.

[Dr.Chazzzzz]

It is viable and has miner 69er that is for damage not just block damage if you read the perk and gets swing speed from fireman's almanac. Its the melee weapon I use all the time unless I'm doing Insane difficulty. Use sledge hammer in the stone age and when I get a wrench I gather forged iron and make fire axe then its axes until bullets become so common not using a gun is just dumb. I don't get how you can say its not good unless you are one of these players that just suck at this game and never try to get better.