I agree with snipping the oxidized ends. If you don't want to lose an inch to that, flux in solder is also meant to remove the oxidation on metals during soldering. Soldering the ends into a solid slug with some silver solder and flux could work well too. I find those easier to work with, but avoid it when you need a metal transition in it as you do with copper, but with silver you can do it without the transition.
But if you can afford to lose an inch, snipping is the easiest by far.