I’m a bit torn between a splitting axe and a mace/morning star of some sort.

An axe offers better penetration and is useful for other tasks aswell but perhaps posseses greater risk of getting stuck. A mace is not as versatile but is highly effecive when making direct contact with the skull and is unlikely to get stuck. A mace is also easier to improvise and customize for individual preferences.

  • Nah, you want one handed blades with just enough weight to damage or destroy the brain stem. Nothing bigger than a machete, though you’d ideally want something with a better steel choice and less proclivity to deformation than the typical machete. You’d want to invest in a good one of those.

    A kukri sounds like a good example of what you are suggesting. It’s an Indian dagger/short sword that has a recurve and a thicker portion from the middle to near the end of the blade moving the center of gravity up and adding a heft that gives the weapon an effective chopping ability. In addition to being a weapon it is effective as a utility knife and as a light axe.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukri