I've just bought a second hand sledge hammer. Handle seemed a little bit dodgy (but what do you expect for £1.50) so, being rather cautious, I decided to replace it even though it's a long job -it took me 4 hours to put a new handle on a freebe ex-NCB axe head. First thing I realised on close inspection was the handle was not secured with a wedge but with large washers hammered into position. When I finally got them out and removed the handle I discovered that it was split almost right through across the diameter just 15mm inside the head- before the retaining taper started. So the probability is that the first time I'd have used it the head would have come off and god knows what damage it would have done to me or even worse to someone nearby!
Anyone else had a similar experience?