I have not done any chopping with these yet. But here is a good side by side comparison...
The Gransfors next to the Council...
You can see the Gransfors is very attractive and sleek, while the Council reminds me of its bigger brothers and more traditional American look (Which I prefer).
Here you can see the shapes of the handles.
I have to admit that from handling both that I prefer the Council. It has a wider/beefier handle and fills my hand a little nicer. The Gransfors again is very sleek looking and still feels very nice. The Gransfors handle comes nicer to the touch, I believe it is oiled? The Council is a little rough but some sand paper and Tung Oil will put it on par with the Gransfors.
Picture of the grain (GB on left/CT on right)
Neither grain is very good, Gransfors is a little better. However these are not huge chopping tools so I doubt it will matter.
Mounting...
I have to say that while the Council's flush mount looks ok, I really like that the Gransfors left a little sticking out the top. That looks better and just makes more sense to me. Even though I dislike metal wedges, the Gransfors looks better here (to me).
Here is what I am looking most forward to testing...
The Gransfors has a little curve/ forward sweep to it. This might help it chop a little better then the Council tool.
Edge to Edge
Looks about the same. Council has barely a little more cutting edge.
Council...
Pretty darn straight!
Gransfors...
Little crooked but not bad. Doubt it will affect it much.
The Edge on the Council came sharp enough to peel a cutie...
SO FAR, I will be selling the Gransfors because it is not $90 better then the Council. Now if I had the money and were in the market to buy a new hatchet, I would pick the GB. But on my budget, I can not afford something like that and I have no doubt the Council would serve me just fine.
Hopefully some chopping is to follow soon.