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How do!

Breaking with my traditional approach of asking a question, and instead making a statement. And it’s based on the relatively humble Ork Choppa.

By all accounts, background and models? These are lumpen and, at least for us, ill-balanced weapons. Brutal by simplistic intent.

Now. I am not arguing that a human couldn’t lift one, or even swing one with malice aforethought. That would be a ridiculous and silly claim. But being able to do that, and do so effectively are quite different propositions.

My main observation here is the Ork physiology. Putting aside the muscles described in the models? Your Ork has longer arms than a human, and a squat posture. Which unless I’m mistaken gives it a very different centre of gravity, and potentially a quite different reach.

To wield a melee weapon you kinda need to treat it as an extension of your arm. Being a wuss I don’t exactly know what that means, but I do kinda get it. Essentially your swing doesn’t end at your hand, but the business part of said weapon. And in terms of a weapon and a fighter’s balance? It’s a matter of relevant weight, leverage and other physics things I’m ill equipped to properly describe.

But. Given the Orky instinctual knowledge and again their physiology? Whilst I don’t doubt a regular human could learn how to wield a Choppa? It’s going to be an uphill struggle due to their sheer weight (mass? Seriously, I’m not sure) and the balance point being different for Orks than Humans? If a standard Guardsman or Ganger was to try to wield one, they’d struggle to do so in any meaningful way.

Diggas? As an example of a Human society that kinda ish more of less mostly lives with Orks in some kind of harmony? I’m not going to count them as standard. Because as soon as they’re grown enough to start combat training? It’s probably Orky or Orky-Approximate weapons they’re practicing on. And as per my caveat above? I don’t doubt a human can learn to effectively wield a Choppa. Just that it’s gonna take quite specific training compared to your own arsenal.

Most weapons require training to use effectively. History shows quite a few weapons in widespread use they are both heavy and front-heavy. Most pole arms, two handers, big maces, etc.

I think you are right that a human using a choppa most effectively may well use it in a different way to Orks, but I’m sure some kind of “effective” combat form could be developed.

The weight and balance would definitely be off, probably mostly due to the size problem. An Ork Choppa has an absurdly large axe head compared to its handle. You'd probably need to two hand it.

What about the Armageddon Ork Hunters?

A particularly beefy human might be able to one hand it I guess. Thinking about it more generalizing is kinda silly since its not like orks are adhering to any sort of standardization in their choppas. Some are giant meat cleavers, some are hatchets/axes, others are swords, etc...

When Armageddon Ork Hunters had their own rules, they could take choppas.

But they’re not regular humans. They’re combat veterans that have presumably been trained or self-trained.

Good points above that I hadn’t considered, ref using them in different ways.

Pretty much any close combat weapon (or any weapon at all really) is going to require training to use effectively, a "regular human" is going to have as much trouble using a chainsword as a choppa, if not more.

I mean it's a motorized death-chainsaw with almost no safety features. It's arguably going to be harder to wield effectively untrained than a big crude topheavy axe

Look, it’s got an off button! What more do you want!