All good Barbarian players will choose which weapon class they want to use throughout the entire game. It is wise to do this as you will then know precisely what weapon you want to trade for and you won't waste time saving points and missing out on the damage bonus until you decide.
Lore
Barbarian warriors of the Shadow Wolf Tribe are masters of the axe. Through the axe, they sought to match the swiping claws and the biting teeth of the wolves with which they lived and fought beside. These first axes were but crude stones mounted on wooden hafts, and after learning the secret of steel and swords from Bul-Kathos, the axe soon fell into disfavor. Recently, however, warriors and smiths from the Steppes have perfected the axe as a weapon equal to or greater than the sword. The Wolf Tribe once again teaches the swift and terrible power of the axe to those who wish to learn how to cull the weak from the herd and to protect their pack from the legions of Hell.[1]
References
↑Diablo II Manual, page 66. Blizzard Entertainment, 2000.