I've had several SRKs, both the older ones in Carbon V and the newer ones (including one NIB that I got a year or two ago). Overall I think they're okay knives, but if you've ever seen one X-rayed (or w/o the handle) you'll find the area where the tang portion meets the blade portion is a very sharp 90 degree angle. This drastically weakens the knife as compared to the ones where that junction is more radiused, as Swamp Rat/Scrap Yard knives are made. That said, I used one of mine pretty hard on and off for 20 years or so with no problems. Were I to buy new ones again I'd be inclined to dry the Benchmade, although I would now choose a Busse-kin or an ESEE over either of them.