This report also mentioned the soldier's satisfaction with the "battle axe" used as an entry tool. Do we have an honest-to-god issue battle axe, or is this just something that individual units picked up off the shelf? Anybody got a link or a picture of one?
The Marine 'battle axe' I've seen from when I was in is an engineer tool that's usually just bought from local sources -- hardware stores nearby to camp. The ones I have seen are 8 or 10-pound mauls or log-splitters with a synthetic handle. Since the handle is usually bright yellow when purchased, someone will spraypaint it olive drab and maybe wrap some athletic tape around the haft. Sometimes they'll saw the handle down a little.
Marines first encounter these in urban warfare training.