Stirrup Adze Re-Handle

[Mike H]

Sometime time ago I posted a pic or two of something found at an estate sale.
The folks here were both helpful and informative in re: what the piece was.
It turned out that the answer was stirrup adze made by Burys & Co. out of England.
I am now in process of making a handle for the adze and have come up with a couple questions.
1) Was the stirrup designed to come off to allow better access to blade/iron for sharpening?
2) Was the stirrup the only means of securing the blade to the handle? The second question is kind of moot as I have already drilled (2) holes through the tang and am looking for a decent metal countersink. I am not having any internal conflict about how far to restore/destroying value in terms of resale. The piece is staying in my shop. It's more trying to stay as authentic as possible while deciding whether intention is try and use the tool when done or just display it on wall.
Used Ash and Black Walnut; in second pic the masking tape is not holding too well and handle
is starting to tip back; oh well.

[Lewill2]

My opinion is the stirrup was how the handle was attached to the blade and allowed easy blade sharpening. Other adze styles have the blade permanently attached.

[Branson]

Yes, the stirrup was removable, with a wedge to hold it all together.  Otherwise, you couldn't get at the blade to sharpen it on a grind stone.  Almost all adz blades can be easily removed from their handles for the same reason.  Of the half dozen or so adzes I have, only one is permanently affixed to the handle.