The chef knife is the most used knife in the kitchen so you want that knife to be comfortable in your hand, you want it to be sharp and you want that sharpness to last. The Birchwood is made of a super steel, SG2 and it goes through a special hardening process, Cryodur, which makes the knife hard, durable and sharp. This knife is not only beautiful but also an example of what a great Japanese knife is made of.