: They were so popular because, being drafted into the
: military, having a usually unbeatable weapon like a
: battleaxe would have the advantage of giving the
: wielder a longer life. I'm sure at least slight
: deformities did occur, which later writers exagerated
: upon. No person is actually symmetrical, being either
: stronger on the left or right side.
Oh yeah, but I meant, as you say, that nobody could become a hunchback just from an axe. Like you say, small deformities would occur due to strain, for instance archer's left arms were longer than their right's as they were 'stretched', but nothing too serious.