There is still no material that can replace the classic wooden handles. In terms of durability and ergonomics (avoiding vibrations in the hand), wood is still the best material for handles. Today the handles are often machine made. They are often not worth much as they do not respect the natural course of the wood fibres.

Source img: "Gotthardbahn, Auszug aus den Vorschriften des Bedingnisheftes über die Ausführung des Mauerwerks", 1873