In the current build you cannot swing you melee weapon when its lowered only when it is raised. Axe - When this is raised its in a position ready to swing, regardless of this your character still pulls the axe back before swinging. My point is that you should be able to swing a lowered melee weapon. If I had a lowered axe I should be able to swing it, but the animation would be to first pull it behind my back thereafter swinging at my target. When it is raised, since it is already behind my back it should swing straight away when I left click.

Hope it makes sense.
Maybe this is already your plan because it seems pretty logical to me.