In 42.x as a whole is there still the problem where miners or lumberjacks need 2 picks/axes because one will only be for work and the other only for battle?
Yes, bug 1451 is still around. But you're miscontruing it. You don't need "2 picks". You simply shouldn't put a Miner in a squad at all. A Miner has to be a full-time civilian, period. If you want to turn him into a military dwarf later, disable his Mining labor. Don't try to make the two things coexist. They can't. Because of the bug.
Well they can. And do in my fortresses. I usally have my starting miners train as a last resort squad. The issues come when they kitout and dekitout.
-They spend
days getting civilian clothes and vice versa, so if you do put them in a squad give them ample time to kit up.
-Make sure you do have extra picks laying around. Or axes, ftm, though training axes usually work fine for civilian labor, due to the risk of them designating wooden axes as war weapons make sure you specify a metal one. The lumberminers will dedicate 1 tool their 'weapon' and use that for combat. Period. So make sure they store it in a place they can reach it quickly. i.e. their room should be close to their whatever.
-They show a definitive preference for training that borders on the ridiculous. They will ocassionally take a break from training to go dig out 1 square or cut 1 tree, then travel all the way back to train more. The issue is that they will train alone if you allow them. So make sure you disable their barracks to send them to work.
-They might get pissy if they dont have an article of clothing to change into going into and out of their uniforms for work and war. Make sure you have extra laying around and/or that they are suitably lightly equipped.
-I dont bother with lumberjacks in the militia, or if I do I designate whole squads of them and give them all axes to train with and treat them as 75% on duty squads so their lose is less felt, and they fight better and carry a shield on them at all times and I usually keep a few fulltime lumberjacks anyway so *shrug"
-Same with miners, I usually keep the crippled miners and newbie miners as civilians, and when newbie miners gain legendary status I train them and add them to a squad.
No, it can be done, with some microing. And particularly the miners make good fighters. I never have to escort my miners in the caves because since civilians were allowed to get pissed and fight in 40.x they've put down things easily enough. Once a pack of 3 BCOs tried to get cute with a miner. The miner put that down quick. GCS/FBs are about the only things Id hesitate to allow them near unwatched. And magma crabs, honestly. Magma crabs are deadly.