The handle looks cool, but its appeal is far beyond aesthetics because it fits a hand like a glove.This is one of the more expensive knives I had been looking for a long time, however, when it had a price drop, I gathered my Amazon points and rang it up.Upon arrival, it's edge was razor sharp. That means that it was able to push cut right through glossy paper with ease. There were no jagged edges, sloppy trails, or stoppage. It glided right through the paper until the whole page was shredded. ItAccording to other website descriptions this chef knife from the Ikon line has a 58 Rockwell Hardness and a 14 degree cutting edge, as compared to other European knives which typically have a cutting edge around 20 degrees. This means that the knife can have easier time cutting through foods.It's one of those knives that I always wanted when I started collecting culinary knives, and, now that I have it, it lives up to the hype and to its price. These knives are made to last with proper care and I'm thrilled to have it in my collection.The packaging was the only weak point. You'll need a sheath or some device for proper storage when it arrives. My knife arrived in plastic and a cardboard sheath. I tried to keep it in there until I got a sheath for it, but I put it in the drawer at a bad angle and the tip of the knife slid into the wood frame above the cabinet. There was no force behind this and it slid in with ease. DON'T DO THAT. Knife came out fine, still sharp, but it's best to avoid these situations in the first place.