Max. I know the question wasn't directed at me, but I just-this-second opened mine up directly out of the mail box and I'm very happy. Not quite as refined as my old cf one, but it'still a great knife, very comfy for a frn handle. This one will be subject to kitchen use only until a nice dark patina develops on the super blue portion. Only $96 on the auction site! Now I gotta sell the SB endura.