Why dwarves and axes?

[shipwreck]

In your example, I would give the "internal" part of your explanation (the mining colony character of the Iron Hills and some local peculiarity) primary weight without disregarding the "external" part (the Hobbit only after its writing "transferred" to Middle-earth) altogether. So overall, anything that is not explained by the local customs or circumstances, is attributed to the external problem

As ever, I bow to your expertise

[Glorelendil]

Nevertheless, they will need wood.

[Hermes Serpent]

Wood for Sheep anyone?

[DavetheLost]

Because Dwarves are short Vikings and Vikings use axes!

More seriously, axes, hammers, and mattocks are swung from the hips and shoulders, being short and broad Dwarves are a good shape to use these weapons. Although having used a mattock for its primary purpose a fair bit it seems like a terrible design for a weapon, but I am not a Dwarf. I would be afraid of the mattock getting stuck.

[Glorelendil]

Because Dwarves are short Vikings and Vikings use axes!

Everybody knows that Dwarves are Scottish.

[Valarian]

Although having used a mattock for its primary purpose a fair bit it seems like a terrible design for a weapon, but I am not a Dwarf. I would be afraid of the mattock getting stuck.

I didn't see a way it could be used either, at first. With some thought I came up with the following:
I see the mattock as being used to punch and hook, as much as slice. A strike with the mattock may well be with the pick side of the tool, with the blade only used when you can strike down at a foe - a coup de grace action. A hook with the blade could trip a foe, leaving them vulnerable to a strike with the blade.

[Valarian]

Because Dwarves are short Vikings and Vikings use axes!

Everybody knows that Dwarves are Scottish.

The Scots are Vikings ... come over from Ireland. The Welsh and eastern Scots (picts) are the actual Scottish people. The original Welsh are in Cornwall.

[DavetheLost]

Because Dwarves are short Vikings and Vikings use axes!

Everybody knows that Dwarves are Scottish.

So does that mean that we will see haggis as a reward in the Iron Hills supplement? I have long thought of Cram as being modeled after Scottish Oatcakes, which are also very popular on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

We have a family tradition about "oatmeal cookies" being eaten by our ancestors coming over on the boat from Scotland, we now think these to have been oatcakes. Dry and somewhat biscuitish.

[Valarian]

Because Dwarves are short Vikings and Vikings use axes!

Everybody knows that Dwarves are Scottish.

So does that mean that we will see haggis as a reward in the Iron Hills supplement? I have long thought of Cram as being modeled after Scottish Oatcakes, which are also very popular on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

We have a family tradition about "oatmeal cookies" being eaten by our ancestors coming over on the boat from Scotland, we now think these to have been oatcakes. Dry and somewhat biscuitish.

Could be welsh cakes.

[Glorelendil]

I was really just referring to the tendency of everybody to use a Scottish accent when roleplaying a Dwarf.