It is ok for the price. The handle is heavy , it is oddly balanced, and the wood is rough. It tends to want to cut thick slices, but still within the acceptable range. I have had worse, but there are many better ones out there. The trick is to find them. If you are willing to accept an ok cheese plane because you did not want to spend a lot of money when you did not know how well it work, this is for you. I would not recommend it for a gift.