Mine was not an axe, rather a rotary cutter.....a gadget resembling a pizza cutter but smaller, used for cutting fabric for sewing. It can cut multiple layers quicker and more accurately than scissors.

A couple of days ago I was cutting strips of fabric to bind my latest quilt, had the long ruler lined up, was cutting.....when I sneezed.....fortunately quick reflexes saved the day.

I can see the headlines now: "Woman injured by rotary cutter while stripping".....