We have a hardware store in Austin I go to for some things and it is where I bought my eye hoe.
A true Italian grape hoe has a curved handle like a single bitted axe or a hatchet.
What I did when I was looking at the selection of handles was to find one with a curve and had the grain running the right direction.
Some lady about my age told me I sure was being picky so I explained to her what I was doing and why.
Here is an example of proper grain direction for an ax.
If you will look at the end the axe will be laying flat and the end grain on the handle is running the same way as the impact of the load on the handle.
When setting any handle this should be done in the same direction or the handle will soon break.
Okay so in the pictuer left is proper and right isn't proper and this handle was made wrong and is weak.
The first thing you want to do is get rid of the cheap varnish they put on the wood handle if is has it and oil it instead several times.
Worth.
