the side langets are an english affectation.
i suspect the axe posted by mr. eley is an english copy of a french one. the std. english broad arrow ones tended to being more angular, wedge-like with straighter lines and a straighter edge. they, generally had a ball ended haft too.
early 19th c. royal navy pattern (nelsonian)
french boarding axe:
note the fore-aft rather than side langets, and the haft end is more pry-like.
just to complexicate things, american fire axe
presented after the great fire in hoboken, NJ (1900)
note the lack of langets.
my everyday axe just for drool factor