The good news: this magnificent handrail from the good old days is cut from *SOLID* redwood! No finger-joint stock or laminate, just solid continuous redwood.
You will be hard pressed to find such on any new construction today.
The bad news: it has suffered tremendously from the slings and arrows of multiple outrageous reattachment to the porch columns for which it was made so many years ago.
The only solution was to peg the damaged holes and slots with dowels and fillets and dress out the raw spots with epoxy.
Maybe it will receive kinder, gentler treatment in it’s old age and not need to be rebuilt for many years.
Kattermann's Handyman Blog 