The steel is 1095 high carbon which makes it easy to field sharpen. The "sister" is the Silver Back, which is D2. D2 steel has a lot more additives, including 12% chromium, which make the knive harder and more resistant to rusting, but also is notoriously harder to sharpen that 1095 High Carbon and can be more brittle (read less flexible) than 1095 High Carbon if it is not tempered properly. On the flip side, D2 still will hold an edge much better. I have both knives and they are FANTASTIC!!!!!