Good Evening, Everyone....

Thanks to all who have responded. I am attaching 4 examples. Shape 1 is the original.

Shape 2 is where I have selected the curves on each half and joined them without removing
the end cap. It worked when I selected "cap ends" and I Boolean=>Unioned. Each section was recognized as a solid. Great! Apparently the "cap ends" choice was the difference.

Shape 3 is where I removed the cap ends, joined the curves and ran loft. None of the sections was
any longer recognized as a solid nor could I Union them.

Shape 4 is where I experimented with turning "Cap ends" and determined that was the culprit.
I've left Shape 4 as a candidate for lofting where I have joined both curves. I did not remove
the end caps before I ran the loft. It was the option "Cap ends" that determined if the result
was a solid or non-solids. You can simply use the Loft option, select the two curves and make
sure "Cap ends" is selected. Voila! perfect.

Thanks Everyone....I can now engrave the shanks with text as solids.