A fixed weight/permanent weight-lifting apparatus including dumbbells and barbells is provided including an elongated shaft having threaded ends, a centrally located handle, collars distal the threaded ends and tapered splines between the threaded ends and the collar and a head to provide the fixed weight of the apparatus that has been forced onto each end of the elongated shaft and a nut securely fastened on each of the threaded ends. When the nut is tightened onto each end with sufficient torque, the tapered spline is forced into the head and forms grooves in the head that correspond to ridges in the spline, which has a higher tensile strength than that of the head.