I noticed a difference betweens the general's ax, panel 6 of page 69 shows the blade at the bottom of the handle opposite the blade at the top, where as in panel 7 on page 76 both ends of the ax point the same way. Which one is right and why?

They both are! :-o Lol *shrug* I don't think it matters much, but if you can attract the attention of Lar, he'd gladly clarify for us

He can turn it around so the handguard is always over his knuckles.

Axes with handguars, what will they think of next? No but seriously i've never seen this anywhere else, but when you think of it, it is truly brilliant.