I have a few Spyderco knives, and this is becoming one of my favorites.The blade is somewhat longer than many, but it doesn't feel big or heavy in your hand. The nylon/fiberglass handle is well suited for use in the water as it doesn't get slippery when wet the way many other materials do. I find the handle on the small side, which is a bonus if you have smaller hands or want something you can operate underwater with one hand.The knife opens easily with a single hand, although I found it took a while to break in - it was a bit stiff when new.The steel blade is indeed quite sharp and holds an edge well without the need for frequent sharpening. It's serrated and I've managed to saw through relatively thick wood and vines with no trouble at all. Best of all, as they say, it is impervious to salt water and has shown zero tendency to rust or oxidize in any way. A few times, I had it immersed in salt water for several hours, and with just a quick rinse in fresh water, it's good as new. Furthermore, I've had various chemicals, petro products, alcohols on it, and it's been completely resistant to any sort of staining.Definitely among the best in this size and shape...if you need one, this is a great product that's worth the price.