I give it 3 stars because it works well as a stapler but the cutter blade is a waste of time at best. If it was just a stapler I would give it 4 stars because it's nothing special. This isn't a lightweight stapler, so it's best to go to the store to feel it in your hand compared to other models. I have big hands and like a hefty tool so this one works for me but the others I work with are like lighter/smaller staplers. I've seen other comments about it tending to pop up and the clips popping out, and that happened to me once when I first got it and tested it, but then I learned how to avoid it: Set the butt plate right after loading. That. If you don't push it down and lift it up so that the tongue is in its socket, then yes, it will open to you, but except for one time it never happened again. The knife is unusable and almost a reason not to buy it. You need to flip the stapler, extend the blade by pressing the yellow plastic tab and hold it open while cutting. I quickly slip it into my holster and pull out a utility knife for cutting. Changing blades requires an awkward grip of pushing the tab forward while pushing the button sideways with one hand and removing the blade with the other hand. Having a blade on the tool would make sense if it could snap, but I see no point in using it as intended. My main tool was the Arrow Hammer Stacker, but when I got an assistant we took turns using this Stanley. We both had the slide open a few times although we were sure we closed it properly so I downgraded my rating to 2 stars. I paid too much to just throw it away but it will forever be my backup, not my main.