See my pictures of the Clash next to an Emerson CQC-7 (made in Emerson's USA "small factory" vs. Ernie Emerson's customs). Both around 4 ounces, very similar blade lengths. Obviously a huge difference in pricing.The Clash has a useful finger grip cut-out; the Emerson has a longer, grippier handle.If you have an Emerson for edc, you might want a Clash for actual chores, to keep the wear off the Emerson. If you get attacked by a small, angry unarmed Middle Earth dwarf, you should be safe with either. Should be, but given the testy nature of Middle Earth dwarfs, no guarantees.The Clash has tip up or tip down carry holes, BUT only on the palm side (right hand grip) of the handle.Metal liners on both sides of the handle on the Clash (as on the CQC-7).Unlike the extremely grippy G10 on the Emerson, the Clash uses smooth (not aggressively diamond-patterned) plastic handles; the mostly-cosmetic ridges on the Clash don't really improve the grip of its smooth, non-gritty plastic.The assisted-opener on the Clash, which has typical Kershaw speed, is such a parlor trick the average guy could spend hours just playing with it while watching TV. In case you haven't tried one, after a medium amount of pressure on the rear flipper (present on this model) or on a thumb stud (not present on this model), once you are past the detent the blade flies open like the dickens. Snazzy!The Clash uses fasteners rather than rivets or glue to hold the assembly together. My Torqx set worked fine on them.Cosmetically the Clash is perfectly finished and assembled. The flipper is a little "pointy" on the finger but that's the nature of a lower-profile flipper.At 4 ounces the knife feels heavy out of the box, but in fact it's no heavier than the Emerson which I carry daily.You can't "shake" this knife open. For extra safety with any pocket knife (other than one which locks CLOSED as well as open, which is quite rare), cut off a small section of bicycle innertube to sheathe the knife in your pocket. It will fall free as you pull the knife out. If you don't use a sheathe, but sure to clip the blade side next to a pocket seam, not with the blade away from the seam. The knife won't accidentally open, but if you fall or the knife gets hit, it's better to orient the blade so the seam stops the opening.This steel has good write-ups. Kershaw, owned by the Japanese Kai knife company, seems to have transitioned to quality mainland-China manufacturing without a glitch. No quality concerns despite the crazy low price!***** Update, second one mid-2021My second one measures slightly under 3.0". This time around I paid $33. Steel is 8Cr despite Amazon misidentifying it as 3Cr - it's marked right on the blade. I prefer this more expensive Clash to the much cheaper, but similar sized footprint, Swerve - I don't like thumbstuds on assisted opening knives, it is too easy to snag a thumbstude on clothing by mistake. IMHO, the tiny flipper tab on on this Clash is much less likely to be snagged and catch. Please note the clip will move from one end of the knife to the other, but not to the other side. The stock position matches my preferred rear right pocket, right seam; or left shirt pocket, left seam, clipping locations. The stock position is also in my preferred tip down location, which I feel is safer in the event the blade slightly displaces out of the handle (it won't point up and stab your finger). On the other hand I suppose the direction of movement when removing from pocket with tip down, could conceivably result in pressure on the mini-flipper tab, so you gain some but lose some.