Ouch. The SRKC HCLE is one of the few from them I own and don't like much. That blade should have/could have been 4". Eric produced a few 4" HCLE's that sold at Blade, but I could not get ahold of one. Maybe one day I'll sell the 3.5" HC, but it's tough for me to part with any steel. Not counting the metallurgy (154CM), it's the knife that should have...for it's given purpose.