On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:22:46 -0700, harry wrote:

the easy way is to start the handle in the hole and then stand the
shaft vertical on ahard surface, (head to the top) raise it an bring it
down smartly onto the surface. The weight of the head will drive it on
to the shaft.

That's exactly how I did it.

I looked on the maul head for markings, and found what appears to be a
brand name and the letters "6 LB" on one side; but I couldn't tell if
that was the top or the bottom of the maul.

I put the hole on the shaft on both sides - and - they appeared to be the
same (but I may have been wrong).

Then, I simply tapped the bottom of the handle on the pavement and the
hammer head slipped down. It wasn't easy though. I had to tap as hard as
I could on a concrete curb (asphalt would have dented easily) about 20 or
so times for the head to make it flush to the top of the wood.

Of course, as I stated, now there's no room for the wood wedge or the
metal wedge.