Some of the moving parts are really tight. Had to work through it about 20 times to get it to loosen up. Makes a great gift

Beautifully made puzzle box, inlaid on all sides. My particular one takes 27 steps to open it, after you have done it with the instructions once or twice you should be able to do it from memory. Very well made, though inlay isn't perfect in places it does not detract from working the puzzle or the overall appearance of the box.

When fully closed this puzzle box appears seamless. It is well made and fits precisely, so expect a snug fit with no loose parts when you shake it. It's so snug, that it wouldn't be a good gift for the elderly, very young or those with poor finger dexterity or strength. This puzzle box is very precisely made, so firm pressure is needed but brute force is not!
I hid 4 Hanayama puzzles inside (dolce, twist, spiral, o'gear. sold separately), arranging them to fit (while in their original assembled positions) is a puzzle in itself. I can fit 5 puzzles (dolce, twist, spiral, o'gear, square) if I use less bulky ones or allow them to be stored in their "seperated" position. It's fun to hand the box to a friend, they feel the weight of the puzzles inside as well as hearing them move slightly but they have to figure out how to open the box. Whoever gets the box open, gets first choice on which of the Hanayama puzzles they will solve. And just like the puzzles, putting the box back together (and arranging the puzzles to fit back inside) can be more difficult than taking them apart.
The first time you solve this puzzle box, it can take some time due to the tight tolerances on the box and the amount of steps. Once you solve it, there isn't much difficulty in re-opening it.

Warning *HINTS* - the solution is mostly repetitive with a small twist near the end. Putting it back together can lead to a false solution with a "dead-end". If you get stuck here, remove the lid and start again. A solution is provided, but isn't needed if you are patient and persistent.

I ordered this box based on a vague description of one my husband said he owned in the 60's. His son gave a vague agreement that it looked familiar, so ordered it. My husband was so surprised and happy to be "reunited" with his box. This one has fewer steps than the original, but my husband has older brain cells, so it was a pretty good fit. He recognized the box immediately. The only difference, he said, was that the joints were tighter and less visible than the original. Imagine that. A craft that has gotten better over the years.
If you've got an old hippie in your family, please consider this box. It's not just a game for kids of the new millennium.

Great puzzle box. We bought this as a gift.
The construction is excellent. I would give this item 5 stars except the 27 steps are repeating steps. I would recommend you buy the 10 step version. It has exactly the same sliding pieces, they just don't repeat.