What issue arises when the blade of an axe is too thick?

When the blade of an axe is too thick, it is difficult to drive through ordinary objects. A thicker blade does not penetrate materials as easily as a thinner blade, which can lead to increased resistance when chopping. This can affect the efficiency of the axe, making basic tasks like cutting wood or breaking down doors during firefighting operations more challenging.

A thicker blade also requires more force to achieve the same level of penetration compared to a thinner blade, which may lead to fatigue over time for the user. While other issues can arise from a thick blade—such as control difficulties or increased bluntness—it's the challenge of penetration through typical materials that stands out as the primary concern when considering blade thickness.