The black thing looks like a flipped normal. (you will need a max user, assuming this is max. to show you how to flip it back, I use maya). Normals are responsible for displaying the face direction, especially important on games modelling as the mesh is single sided. (only one side of the poly is drawn by game engine) you can use a technique called 'averaging normals' to make a line of polys look smoother (higher res), instead of orienting the face @90deg it will sample an average face orientation.
The polys on the side of the handle, you can delete the majority of edges saving around 36 polys. (again a max user will have to tell you how)
Modelling both sides at the same time requires a duplicate (instance) with a negative transform. Again I have no idea how unless it's in maya. For maya if you no longer wish to model symetrically you delete the history on the duplicate, again in max I have no idea, not very helpful am i?
For a first it's well done mate.
