ah, but axes are covered by the existing 'offensive weapons' laws, which cover anything with a point or blade or any other tool or device which can be reasonably expected to be able to cause harm to a person. they cannot be carried off your property without a valid reason, such as martial arts or an arms show, but it's the police & crown prosecutors who decide on the validity, not you.
if the police suspect that prohibited items under the act are in your possession, they may apply for a warrant to search your premises and seize any weapons and any others found in the pursuit of the warrant, but not directly mentioned therein, and a judge may issue an instruction to have them destroyed (even if you are found innocent) 'taking in to account the value thereof and it's impact on the accused' (?).
as there is no such thing as a 'defensive' weapon, even if you ARE on your property, using one for defence is considered as use of an offensive weapon with the intent to cause greavous bodily harm & can result in prosecution.
here's a decent linky on UK knife law: at
British Knife Collecters Guild
a recent case involved a man burgled and attacked in his own home who picked up a steak knife & wounded the poor club wealding perpetrator, who said he was just trying to get away, the homeowner was prosecuted for assault with an offensive weapon and greavous bodily harm. the burglar testified for the crown & was given immunity.
what a world, what a world.....