I cannot overstate the value of this toy. It was a very near thing, getting this a year ago, because mechanical parts mean weak points, and my kid can destroy a KONG toy in a week. But dangit, it was just TOO cool not to get. Let me be clear, that was no exaggeration. My child, now 8, can literally destroy an indestructible large-dog toy in 7 days or less. Minecraft is their special interest, and they lost their mind when they unwrapped this present for Christmas last year. We didn't even get through the other presents; they were dressed and outside mining first the snow, then the ice, and then transforming it into a sword to murder snowmen. Er, snow golems. And - IT - HELD - UP. They lost it in the snow two weeks later and we found it a month after that. It held up. They sword fought with sticks and steel poles, pretended to mine dirt (read this as actually kinda trying to but being mostly gentle so we wouldn't know) and dug in the neighbor's sand. It held up. It's been thrown across the driveway, dropped into a bath, unquestionably chewed on, and it held up. This toy is beat to hell. It has dozens of scratches per square inch, and the foam is cracked *JUST CRACKED!* where they whack with it the most. It takes a little more effort to lock into place, but it continues to transform fantastically, and it's probably still their favorite toy. I think I bought this for about $30 last year, but knowing what I do now, I would recommend it at 50, because it'll outlast anything else you get and it'll bring a lot more enjoyment. You should know however, that while this foam will help prevent a tooth getting knocked out, it's a stiff foam, and it'll still hurt of someone tries to take of a limb with it. The sword would hold fine in a battle against itself, but I'd hate to be the fingers holding it or the face catching it. Recommended for everything except direct sibling fights unless they're pretty tough kids. This pickaxe/sword is more durable and more valuable to my kid than the diamonds it's fictitiously (unless??) made of. I have not been paid to tell you about this thing, it's simply my duty as a parent to see that other parents get this toy if their kid would want it, because it's fantastic. That said, if whatever company makes these wanted to, ahem, send my their thanks, I suspect this won't make it a second year under the incredible duress my child puts it through. ... Wink. ... I'm winking at you, company. I respect this sword. And pickaxe. Both. Both are good.