I have just finished binding the handles on some home made rapping irons.

A friend down the lane had some metal off cuts which are the right shape and weight. Hopefully the handle binding will make them comfortable to hold.

These are used during basket making to make sure your weaving is nice and tight.  Allowing the weight of the metal to compress the rows of weaving when you give it a generous wallop, will mean the basket is tighter overall and therefore more sturdy.