This knife is made by Tsunehisa in Tosa, Japan. They are well known for their outstanding value and use of top-quality steel. In the case of this knife, they have used the highly regarded G3 stainless steel. G3, also known as Silver 3 steel, Ginsanko, or Gin3, is stainless steel made by Hitachi Metals. It is a fine-grained high carbon stainless steel that possesses a similar cutting feel and ease of sharpening to classic carbon steel. Ginsan steel is an excellent stainless steel for forging and it is a very similar alloy to white steel in terms of edge formation and sharpness. We have a great affinity for this stainless alloy for many reasons, including ease of sharpening and general maintenance.