Chroma 7-1/4-Inch Santoku Knife The Chroma type 301 knives follow faithfully the Japanese philosophy, which dictates a knife to be lightweight and flexible. They are made of high-quality Japanese 301 steel, a relatively lightweight material which has a 56-58 hardness rating in the Rockwell hardness scale. This renders the type 301 knives harder than most of the non-Japanese knives and among the hardest knives within their price range. The increased hardness allows the knife to maintain its sharpness longer and also to slice better. An ergonomic handle designed by F.A. Porsche, (The designer of the Porsche 911), which offers better control and allows the knife to stand upright without its blade touching the bench. A metal pearl which clearly demarcates the end of the handle, for better control when cutting. A seamless construction and hygienic transition from blade to handle. There are no pieces of different materials to fall apart, at the same time the knife is more hygienic in use since you can easily clean its smooth surface. A special grinding method is used, so the knife stays sharp longer and is easier to sharpen.The out of the box sharpness is among best in the industry. The Chroma type 301 knives follow faithfully the Japanese philosophy, which dictates a knife to be lightweight and flexible. They are made of high-quality Japanese 301 steel, a relatively lightweight material which has a 56-58 hardness rating in the Rockwell hardness scale. This renders the type 301 knives harder than most of the non-Japanese knives and among the hardest knives within their price range. The increased hardness allows the knife to maintain its sharpness longer and also to slice better. An ergonomic handle designed by F.A. Porsche, (The designer of the Porsche 911), which offers better control and allows the knife to stand upright without its blade touching the bench. A metal "pearl" which clearly demarcates the end of the handle, for better control when cutting. A seamless construction and hygienic transition from blade to handle. There are no pieces of different materials to fall apart, at the same time the knife is more hygienic in use since you can easily clean its smooth surface. A special grinding method is used, so the knife stays sharp longer and is easier to sharpen.The out of the box sharpness is among best in the industry.