Created items disappear when I press a button

When I create an item inside a chest using a command block, specifically:
/blockdata ~ ~4 ~3 {Items:[

{id:diamond_axe}

]}
the item appears in the chest.

However, when I hold that item and right click, it disappears. When I left click nothing happens, and when I attack mobs, it doesn't deal any extra damage. It is as if the item is not existing.