I used to be really into blacksmithing and knifemaking. Life happens,...I haven't done regular work with the forge for 20 years. It occurred to me that my main - hobby, I suppose, is cooking, so I went poking around for a better 8" chef's knife to replace the Henckels that I've had for ages that's never held an edge to my satisfaction (easy to sharpen, great balance and shape, though). I am way behind on the newer knife steel alloys currently available! So I'm doing homework on knife steels.