the cripplings (kripplare in swedish) is creatures who lives in wastelands and they are dangerous (violence is one of the few things they understand), so if you are a warrior, you must have your weapon prepared if you meet them.

they cannot forge their own weapons, so they have to steal weapons from others, or make them in a very simple way. (for example. to make a spear the crippling way: tie a sword around a long staff)
and they doesnt care if it is a new fancy weapon or an old rusty weapon.