I just bought a 2" Douglas and a 2" White chisel from the 1900s and neither have handles. Does anyone have pictures of what the original handles would have looked like?
The White catalog shows clearly that the taper of the socket continues onto the handle and bends the slope into a curve, however this is a handle that is perfect in appearance but is lacking as a hard working tool. My choice is for a greater diameter, lack of contact between the socket rim and the handle's shoulder and no contact with the ring and the upper shoulder. Heavy driving will cause the socket and ring to be driven into the handle causing splitting.
This link is excellent! Thank you so much. This will make it much easier for me to turn the new handles with the historic(original) in mind and with my personal touch.