I would just like to start off by saying that this knife shipped and arrived very fast! I ordered it on Feb 4, 2014 and it arrived at the post office on Feb 6, 2014. WOW! Amazon prime's not kidding when they say two day shipping. Keep in mind that this package shipped all the way from Delaware to my home in Hawaii, that is completely across the country, in two days! Kudos to Amazon for the amazing shipping speed.I bought this knife as an EDC. For a few years now, I've been carrying an Ontario RAT I. The RAT is literally the best 30 bucks i've ever spent in my life. If you want a larger utility knife of great quality I suggest checking out the RAT. It is an excellent blade for the price and one that has served me well (unfortunately, I can't find it). I figured the RAT may be a little too big for EDC and I ought to get something a little smaller. Chances are that if you are reading this review you are in the market for an affordable EDC and are considering other options. Some other products to consider that are about the same size and price are: Ontario RAT model II, Kershaw Skyline, and ESEE Zancudo. This range of knives tends to be tricky waters to navigate through. You have the possibility of receiving an excellent knife that is worth more than what you payed for or you could possibly receive absolute crap. This knife definitely falls into the former category!Blade: the blade is very attractive. It is simple and elegant. As is evident in the pictures, you can see that the blade has a small recurve in it towards the rear. It is very slight and barely noticeable. It arrived paper-shredding sharp. Some of the other reviewers complained about theirs being dull. I think it is really a matter of luck. If you're lucky, you'll receive a sharp one. Even if you don't, chances are that you know how to put at least a decent edge on a knife (I hope). There are some good sharpeners as well as stones for great prices out there on amazon if you need them. The blade steel is 8cr14Mov. It is a decent steel that is comparable to AUS-8. The blade is a high hollow grind. It has the CRKT logo on the left side as well as the name "DRIFTER" laser etched on the right. The coating is Titanium Nitride.Deployment: The deployment is one of the best i've seen amongst non-assisted knives. It is very easy to flick out. You don't even need to move your wrist, only your thumb. I believe the washers are bronze phosphorous which help with ease of opening. Simply put, the deployment is excellently smooth and fast.Grip/handle: I love how the grip is a very simple design. I have never really liked super fancy weird shaped knives. This knife's handle is simple, conservative, and practical (you shouldn't expect something super fancy from a sub $30 blade. Surprisingly, the handle is G-10. This was the most shocking aspect of the knife to me. Most knives with G-10 cost $40 and up. Now, the G-10 isn't phenomenal (and I didn't expect it to be). It is not super grippy but not slick either. I mean, it would be nice if it provided a little more traction. The scales could be a better pattern. But hey, we're lucky it even has G-10 at this price point!Jimping: The jimping is great. It is just enough to keep your thumb from slipping but not too sharp as to destroy your skin. It is not rounded or crescent shaped like on other knives. Instead, it is squared off.Thumbstuds: Dual thumbstuds, nuff said.Construction: This is one solid knife. There is no flex in the handles whatsoever. The steel liner is nested within the G-10 which provides a rigid and durable construction. There is perfect blade centering. It is a post/flow-through construction conducive to easy cleaning and there is a lanyard hole for those of you who like to add that sort of thing (I'm not sure if the hole is big enough for 550 paracord). It looks a little small but I suppose you could squeeze it through.There is only one major thing that CRKT really messed up on that might be a dealbreaker for some: The pocket clip is a one position carry. There are no other places to attach it. It is right side tip down carry which many are disappointed by. The clip is VERY tight upon arrival. So tight that I had a hard time lifting it up with my fingers. This is what I did: I just bent the clip a little so there would be less resistance. I used a butter knife and just went under the clip and pried the clip to bend it a little. I am a lefty and it kind of bothers me that the clip is not re-positionable. I am kind of ambidextrous and can open and use the knife easily with my right hand. This may not be the same for other lefties, however.Bottom line: If you want an inexpensive (not cheap) knife that is nice looking and of great build quality then this knife is for you. If you want a great, light, small EDC, then this is the knife for you. If you want a top notch knife comparable to benchmade and something to pass on as a family heirloom, then this is not the knife for you. This knife is not big enough for bushcraft, self defense, or hunting. However, it is big enough for anything you would do everyday (unless you like, you know, live in the wilderness like a boss and hunt wild beasts). But, most of us do not live in the wilderness and hunt wild beasts! We open boxes, clamshell packages, cut cord, and other everyday things like that. Get this knife now if you want a superb EDC!