You are 100% right never ever approach a conscious wounded human who was just moments before intent on killing you. That is exactly why I said bayonet them you still have a hot round ready at point blank range to the head should they attempt to fight if they move pull the trigger. As for the axe we carried all steel tomahawks 18 inches long with an edged side and a 6 inch spire side. It is truly surprising how many different things can be done with a tomahawk. They also would be perfect for dispatching semi-conscious point side to the small of the back of the head. IF you need intel then have some MP trained guys around they have all be through EPW training..a blowtorch and some pliers will get you all the intel any one needs. We were not implicitly authorized to have Ruger Mark 4s but they sure do make a good sentry dispatch weapon when suppressed at point blank range.
The cruelest things I have heard of is from certain turd world countries intelligence services:
No comment on where the info came from, but most of it is OSINT.
Your captive is seated in a chair, restrained in a small room completely with ankle, knee, waist, chest, shoulder, neck, elbow, arm, and wrist leather straps. It is cold and dark of course with only a small light, the chair and restraints, the board, and a clock. A small fire keeps an iron poker red hot.
In front of him is a wall 8 feet high with a sign covering the whole wall. The only light is a small LED that illuminates a list with about 50 lines on it. It starts like this:
1) Left pinky finger.
2) Right pinky finger
3) Left small toe.
4) Right small toe
5) Left middle finger.
6) Right middle finger.
7) Left ear.
...and so on.....50 or so lines down including cutting off the penis, tongue, intestines, eyes, etc.
....and so on. Anyways, Mr/Mrs. 3rd world interrogator comes in there without saying a word, and cuts off 1). Then uses a hot iron poker to cauterized the fresh wound. Mr. 3rd world interrogator turns around, marks off what he just did, and walks out....without saying a word.
An hour hour goes by, and someone else comes in, looks at the board, and goes to the next line that isn't crossed out, and without saying a word, cuts off next item, cautorizes the wound, crosses off the board, and walks out.
An hour later, he comes in, without saying a word, and cuts off 3) ...and so on. You get the jist of it.
Unnamed person/country told me that they have rarely had to come in more than 3-4 times before the subject is spilling his guts without any questions. Rarely, 1 in a 100, they say, they barely get into the double digits, mind you hours into the ordeal with the time in between used to mentally torment the subject as to what is coming next.
I asked, "What happens if you find out they lied to you?", and the reply was, "We go down the list 10 numbers in one session".
Anyways, I don't plan on visiting the unnamed country.
Second is in South America: they use "insect torture" that includes various scorpions, bees, ants, etc. that they use to get confessions. I was told that there is some sort of wasp in the jungle that's sting is so painful that one sting and most subjects are screaming their life out.....and the prospect of a 2nd sting will usually get you any intel you need. ....again....not visiting certain South American countries anytime soon.
If I need to get intel, I'll rely on strapping the offenders down on a fire ant mound while I "feed my catfish".
If their crimes are grievious enough, I'll resort to Scaphism.
Good luck out there. Keep your powder dry.