Stainless

A kind of steel containing chromium (at least 11%), it boasts rust-resistance and ease of maintenance. However, it's also not as tenacious as others and gets chipped easier. Commonly used Japanese knives include Ginsan (Hitachi Metals), V Gold/VG (Takefu Special Steel), and AUS (Aichi Steel). Stainless steel knives are generally made via stamping.