Having owned a traditional Japanese Hori knife with an oak handle and a full tang, I was curious to see how this Kimura model would stack up. The first thing to note is that this is a full-sized tool. The blade and handle are standard dimensions, not cut down or thinned out in comparison to premium models. Kimura is a Japanese manufacturer with centuries of history, and the blade genuinely feels like quality Japanese steel, although manufactured in Taiwan. It also features handy depth markings stamped in inches on the face of the blade, making it highly effective as a digging trowel for planting bulbs.It functions as a bit of a garden Swiss Army knife. The curve at the tip is perfectly shaped for sliding along wooden fences to lift away stubborn ivy, while the serrated edge makes light work of hacking through thick weed roots. The handle is synthetic, and while the traditional wooden versions definitely look nicer, the black handled one is ergonomically more practical. It is thinner and more rounded than a square wooden grip, and it is flared at both ends so your hand cannot slide forward onto the blade or slip off the back. Because the handle is moulded directly onto the steel, the connection is rock solid with absolutely no play or flexing when you are digging.Using a magnet, I can tell the tang goes nearly two inches into the handle, which is more than enough for garden use. I am not a massive fan of the inset manufacturer name on the grip, but it does not impact performance. The only real letdown is the leatherette holster. It is a neat copy of a real leather sheath, but the serrated edge is inevitably going to cut through the synthetic material over time. Ultimately, this holster and the shorter tang are the only things separating this from the premium versions; the blade efficiency is identical. It is a beautifully made, highly effective tool that would make an excellent Christmas or birthday gift for any gardener.