This is a favorite of mine, I've had it for several years now. I wish it was made without the top portion of the guard -- there's just no need for it & it gets in the way (to the best of my knowledge, double guards are primarily for keeping the blade from slipping too far into a body, as with the guards on boar spears). But the knife is a natural slicer (though the edge could be thinner) -- & it's so light it's easy to pack for many excursions...