I also picked up a Council 2-1/4lb Boy's Axe from Omaha Knife about a month ago. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and the fit at the eye. Relatively thin handle (a good thing) with straight grain and no run off.
The flip side of the Council tools is that some folks say "good value FOR THE MONEY". I don't have that level of expertise...I simply find it to be a good carry tool for overnights, occasional splitting and general farm use.
If I had it to do over again and even with my meager knowledge of axes I would purchase vintage no question about it. It's easy to pick up an unmolested vintage Boy's Axe head (or cruiser) and then take your choice of handle. The clean up for an older head is a cinch and fitting a new handle takes modest skills and all of about an hour to install. Figure some vinegar, a pack of sandpaper or steel wool, a basic bastard file and a can of Boiled Linseed Oil equals what? Maybe $50 or $60 bucks and you've got a tool that is not just yours...it's now "YOURS" with your sweat equity.
Oh yeah...and if you're silly enough to take my advice get a new slab of wood from House Handle. This morning I got the last one...a 36" Octagon for a Plumb 3.2 that I specifically asked for dark wood. Meagan at House picked and packed it. I'll have it completed this weekend and post a pic. Very pretty set-up...
