I thought of that too, but than the other line where it turns gray is a strait line, and I think that could be the temper line.
I gave it another vinegar bath, and scrubbed it again. The only strait haft at the local hardware was sapwood hickory.
I used a Dremel to remove the peened portion of the eye.
This axe head reminds me of Sally Field. It has puffy cheeks. It will make a good splitting axe, but not a felling axe.
The homeowner wants to give me the axe head, but I want to pay him. What do you think it's worth?