"This is a nice push dagger for what it is. This dagger is small. Most people are not going to be able to hold it so that the handle is supported strongly in the palm of the hand. That's true of almost all small push daggers. The stem between the handle and the blade is wide. The edges will dig into the insides of one's fingers a little bit, but that width will also make supporting the dagger a bit easier when the handle doesn't snug nicely into palm of the hand. The edges don't come very sharp, but one could sharpen the edges. I could see some benefit to sharpening the edges a little bit near the tip. The tip is sharp enough to function well for a push dagger. As a defensive weapon, I would hold this push dagger between the index and middle fingers. A straight thrust against a hard object (sternum, skull, rib) might be painful to the person wielding this dagger. A straight thrust to softer targets would be effective. The hooking strike shown in some KarateMart.com videos might be a better choice with this push dagger. No one is going to make this push dagger a first choice in a fight, but this push dagger could make someone a little more effective in a self-defense scenario. The dagger itself is visually pleasing. The simple blade design has an elegance that I just don't see in many of the fancy blades that some makers put on push daggers. The handles look like some kind of laminate and are pretty. Mine has more colors along the sides than the one in the photos. This is a classy little push dagger. I see this model as more of a collector's item for people who like push daggers. I could see someone carrying it occasionally if local laws allow carry of push daggers, but I think most people would choose other models if they thought themselves likely to encounter riskier situations. For the price, I'm glad that I added it to my collection."