the "axe haft" is sometimes called the handle. traditionally, it was made of a resilient hardwood like hickory or ash, but modern axes often have hafts made of durable synthetic materials. antique axes and their modern reproductions, like the tomahawk, often had a simple, straight haft with a circular cross-section that wedged onto the axe-head without the aid of wedges or pins. modern hafts are curved for better grip and to aid in the swinging motion, and are mounted securely to the head. the "shoulder" is where the head mounts onto the haft, and this is either a long oval or rectangular cross-section of the haft that is secured to the axe head with small metal or wooden wedges. the "belly" of the haft is the longest part, where it bows in gently, and the throat is where it curves sharply down to the short "grip", just before the end of the haft, which is known as the "knob".