I can definitely see a gal cleave a power armor helmet with an axe. And I can see her hit a joint with a sword to chop an arm.
Imo let's add more emphasis to melee skill with swords, with less base power, and armor reduction to blunts. The former will be important to take out cyclops and the later will work better against power armors. Axes would keep the same stats, using pure strength but without the armor modifier.
Currently there is too little difference between the three kinds and I simply gave tech blades to everyone.
Semi related : In DF, swords have low contact area, causing them to either be stopped by armor completely, pass through unchecked or to bend the armor causing a conversion to blunt damage. Blunt are more effective against armor because they are less often blocked.