object deforms strangely when using the subsurf modifier I am trying to make an axe and stomped upon this problem...having no idea how to resolve it.
1st photo is with subdivision.

second is without.
If you are just starting with blender here is lesson number one: Avoid using n-gons (faces with more than 4 vertices). 

Ngons do not subdivide well.

Try to keep your topology using quads (4 vertices per face)