That is indeed a chunk of leaf spring. I planed on using a file, and convexed one side with the file, then I had a bad idea and learned a lesson.
The pawn shop hammer is down for the count! My anvil has a little chunk out of the far side, and a misplaced hammer blow landed right on it. I gouged the grap out of the face of the hammer. I wonder why it was so soft?
As far as the handle, I was planning to just cord wrap it. Now, I'm thinking about making some scales out I some maple I have laying around just to do it. I'm looking forward to the heat treat, then abusing it to failure to test said heat treat. I have a big hunk o 1084 that has been cut to a rough blank that I'm hoping will turn out well. The stock is 2inches wide, so I hot cut the tip to a 45 degree angle, and tapered the stock from 2 in at the belly of the blade, to 1in at the end of the tang to give it plenty of belly and tip weight for choppin'.