I saw this one today. The guy has a good amount of custom handle stuff. I found it fun to look at.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-Shoemaker-Hammer-handcrafted-handle-smoked-autumn-wood-Vojko-Savor-/400657235712?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d49083f00
Wow, some of his tomahawks are downright pretty!
These do look nice.
There are several guys making them now.
But they are strictly wall hangers.
Its tough enough to get a striking tool handle to hold up to hard work in pure hickory.
Glue and oak and such is just not very likely at all.
yours Scott
Here's a handle that has seen a few days work..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-RARE-STONE-DRESSING-HAMMER-WOODEN-HANDLE-CRANDALL/231147430549
Most of the time when they look like this they were just left in the rain.
Hickory might be the best there is for a handle, but it totally hates water!
Even under a shed roof with rain blowing in on occasion they will look like this in a winter.
yours Scott
That handle reminds me of the time as a kid when I left my best baseball bat laying outside in the grass. For a whole summer.
If you found those interesting check these ebay sellers out.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-spiked-tomahawk-axe-hatchet-picaroon-POLISHED-custom-handle-WAR-HOOK-/161219242485?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25896a69f5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VOIGHTS-PATENT-NOV-4-1902-DOUBLE-CLAW-HAMMER-Custom-Rosewood-Handle-/300895916600?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460ecb5238
The second one is pretty, but the price is high and shipping from Thailand is $45!