I am just a beginner chef and this is my first "real" knife, but of all the knives I have held or tried this one has spoke to me the most. First of all, it's a beautiful knife and I really love the way the blade and handle look. The grip feels really good in the hand and the balance is fantastic. Additionally, I really like the shape of the bolster, it's great for both a pinch grip and a pointed finger grip. The real selling point for me was the slight curve of the blade, I liked it better than some of the other flatter options. Overall, this is a great all purpose knife, especially for the price, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a first knife or expanding their collection.