No, it would not be classed as theft. It is a civil issue.
He simply (and, sorry, allegedly) hasn't paid, just like if you don't pay your electricity bill, and at this stage it's your word against his.
Small Claims in the County Court is pretty straightforward and is more or less your only (legal) recourse in a case like this.
You can go to the County Court to ask a Judge for an order that he pays up. You need to give the other party reasonable written notice (e.g. seven days) that if he doesn't pay then you will go to the Courts. You will need to give the Court satisfactory evidence that
1. you gave reasonable notice of Court action
2. there was a contract agreed for the sale of the axe
3. the terms of the contract were as you claim
4, you upheld your part of the contract
5. he didn't.
Your sworn testimony will do for most of that, but anything that you can give in writing such as copies of Web pages, private messages, proof of posting and copies of letters will help a lot. In most cases you will be thrown out of the Court if you can't provide evidence which would normally be expected, such as a copy of a seven day letter to the other party. Be prepared to write it all out in excruciating detail.
I've done this a lot in the past quarter of a century when customers haven't paid me.
If you like you could write out your claim here and everyone can see how it's done..
This is not legal advice.
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