I had a Michigan pattern double bit axe that has needed to be rehung for over a year and I recently pick up a really similar one for less than $20 (including shipping) on eBay. The gift of a Swedish felling axe from a friend (SUCH A SWEET AXE!) had me in a mood to finally re-handle the two other heads. I had planed on shaping the handles myself from some hickory, but I walked into my local hardware store and they had a barrel of axe handles right by the door that were on sale. I took it as a sign and bought two without really looking at them.
The plan was to re-hang my original axe head with a shorter 20” handle, making it a saddle axe or saddle cruiser and to put a full 36” handle on the new and slightly heavier head. As I was cutting down and re-shaping the smaller handle, I found out why they were on sale: the grain was running completely the wrong way. I may have said some dirty words… I have had terrific luck with Amish made handles in the past and ordered a 24” and a 36” from a Pennsylvania Amish-made handle dealer – I doubt that he himself is Amish as he e-mails and is on eBay, I don’t think those things fall within the bounds of the Ordnung…
Both handles were as advertised, with tight correct laying grain, and went on with minimal fitting. Two leather sheaths from Amazon finished off the project and I am ready for fall cutting and limbing.