Thread: Prison Break

First of all, I would like to apologise for not being active in posting in the forums, although I am a longtime member. But the reason I am posting today, is because I need a well educated opinion on an arguement my friend and I have been having. It started off when we watched the 2nd Season Finale of the popular TV show Prison Break. You may think this fits into the Entertainment forum, but this is where we started debating:

Toward the middle of the episode, one of the most hated characters, "T-Bag" handcuffs himself to Skofield, in efforts to ensure his life from "A Bruzzi". This doesn't sit well with the escaped convicts. In order to separate the two of them, A-Bruzzi takes an axe, found in a barn. It is implied that it is a commen woodsplitting axe, with a sharp edge. With one powerful swing, A-Bruzzi (a well built mobster) cuts T-Bag's hand straight off while it was pressed tightly up against a car's hood. (approximately 1 inch below the creases in his wrist)

In my opinion, this is possible. I've googled several news articals of instances like this on the internet. (I know the internet it unreliable, but I searched on legitimate websites.) And judging by commen knowledge, this would be a hard, yet possible feat.

My friend, Vincent, on the other hand argues that and axe can't do that "because there's an art to it, you have to pull or push away to incorporate lateral motion to "slice" through it" [That is a paraphrased way of the technique you use a KATANA]. He also argues: "An axe has a fraction of the blade length and it's impossible to use enough lateral motion to slice through somebody's wrist." It's a valid statement, ALTHOUGH, knives are used for chopping thick substances, and its a similar task, is it not?

What I am asking is: Is it possible to take an axe and cut directly through a persons hand? (not including small portions of connected skin)
--Take into consideration variables such as bone integrity, thickness of the wrist, weight/sharpness of the axe, and common knowledge.

Let me know your honest opinion.

Thankyou for taking the time to read this, and again, I'm sorry I don't post often in the forums, but I do enjoy reading often.