KitchenAid Gourmet Stainless Steel Wire Masher, 10.24-Inch, Black

Q: Does the wire extend through the full length of the handle (i.e., full tang)?

I assume it does. However, I can not see it though, because, there is a stainless steel cap on the back end of the handle.

Q: New to this.There are 2 types of manual potatoe mashers, this tyoe and the flat round one with holes. Which do you prefer and why?

I prefer this this type because it gets the job done faster. It can also leave the potatoes a bit chunky; sometimes I prefer this to really smooth, mashed potatoes. Also, I think the small hole type would make the mashing take longer to do!

Q: What's the difference between the Gourmet and Classic models other than four bucks?

Without looking it up I do not know, however, the Gourmet model is very sturdy and I love how much better it mashed potatoes vs the round waffle shaped ones.