Will a dwarf fight better with a weapon that he likes?

I have a dwarf who is a competent axedwarf but 'likes' shields and spears-- do I ignore the relatively modest experience he already has with axes and put him in with my 300-esque, large-monster-taker-downer-er..ers.. or, do I just ignore that and make him an axedwarf?

Solution 1:

As far as everybody knows, the three main effects of preferences are

1. Happy thoughts for that item/material
2. Higher quality when manufacturing that particular thing (so if you've got a starting dwarf that likes silver and warhammers, put him as your weaponsmith)
3. Higher chance of making that item when in fey mood.

There have been no tests shown to have any difference in combat - it might be interesting to try it in the arena, x dwarves loving their weapon type versus identical dwarves liking something else.