Got my hands on a product that until now didn't know about or notice. It's a 
handle protector for axes, sledge hammer, mawls, etc.(long handles tools) and 
by gawdly , it works very well so far. Considering that I break a handle more 
than I like for no reason over than over-strike it's worth the $3.50. 
Available at h/w or tool centers it looks like a rubber bumper and slips over 
the handle after buying the proper size. If your spliting wood manually it 
really does help save grief of replacing a broken handle. -_-_-Bill
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