I've scoured these from estate sales in the last year.....both Craftsman. Just took the pic yesterday bc I knew I joined here!!
See the standard problem with cheapie mauls? Look at the poll (hammer-face) of the one with all the duct tape. See how it's been mushroomed? The steel is way too soft for use in such a tool. With proper metallurgy, forging and heat-treatment for a maul, the poll will not be quite as hard as the edge, but sufficiently hard & tough to resist being reshaped on hitting steel. That maul's probably not worth a handle replacement. Some mauls are made of such good steel that you can barely tell that the poll's been used for striking. Problem at point of sale at your friendly local is telling how the tool will stand up to normal (ab)use. Varies enormously. I can testify that Mueller's maul heads are exceptionally good. Just expensive. Then you have "splitting axes" that are often dangerous to use for hitting steel. Their hardness often makes them brittle. YMWV
Good score TripleF.... I too am a fan of yard sale, estate sale and farm auction purchases of hand tools over the comparative high price of products with hard to pronounce names. My two favorites are the home made mauls that began life as sledge hammers then forged into mauls back in the 50's by my dad.
Thanks for the insight.....much appreciated. Since I am a poor man, I use what I buy cheaply, BUT is older American made stuff, at least I have that as mental reward! They are both Craftsman.
