A new blade is easy to change, a dab of super glue keeps the bolt from loosening. Its amazingly sharp and satisfactory for the first month. With trimming dead oak branches...especially post oak and black jack oak it begins to lose it pizzazz in a few weeks. I use it daily in the winter for caring for 120 acres, maintaining a new growth of forest,trimming lower limbs, so I do put it to the test. Eventually it gets a bend in time it can't be straightened and i tend to snap the tip off. I use these blades till they're dull. I like it but wonder if the stainless steel isn't the best choice? Like the way it folds and I can carry it in my back pocket.