Thanks for the kind words. Just remember, I use machetes often. They work well in this terrain and with technique, you can even chop down a big tree with a thin blade machete. But they dull fast. This machete holds an edge, and is easier to chop with. I got lucky getting my 1311 when so many are still waiting for theirs. But I did not request engraving on mine, so maybe that's why I got it so fast. Trust me, the 1311 is worth the wait. It isn't fancy or pretty to look at. It's plain Jane. But it is a thing of beauty in action.