Misblow

A misblow at any point would have meant a loss of thousands of dollars; but such was the skill of the accomplished cleavers that not once did this occur.

Source: wiktionary

"Can he have fainted from loss of blood?" said Bluff, still having in mind a picture of a woodsman who had severed an artery by a misblow of his ax.

Source: wiktionary

Now, therefore, holding my breath in dread lest I should rouse the castle with a misblow, I began to swing and strike each blow heavier and more confident than the last.

Source: wiktionary

It has an eye large enough to admit a small sledge handle, and the handle should be made of good hickory with some surplus stock near the eye, as it is liable to get many bruises from careless handling and misblows.

Source: wiktionary