This hammer pretty much ticks all of your boxes, and that's a good thing. It's well built, heavy but not overly heavy, and slightly balanced against the metal part, allowing you to drive nails in with less effort. The rubberized handle holds well and never slips out of your hand. I've used it for projects around the house and didn't think twice, that's the point of a good tool. It seems like a good price for good quality. I recommend it.