For $39 you just saved a bunch of money without switching to GEICO to spend on other stuff, er kit; really mundane and unromantic items like sleeping bags and a box of matches. Stuff, er kit that may very well mean the difference in a survival situation the fanciest knife cannot influence. Surgical Steel is an old advertising ploy. There is no such animal.Medical instruments are made of various finely grained stainless steels. The finer the grain, obviously less nooks and crannies for pathogens to take up residence and make evicting more difficult in an autoclave unit.This translates to what the mills have that works and costs the least.It's one of the 440 series of steels, AKA in Europe as ROSTFREI with it's own advertising schtick of metallurgy Sigfried would want for killing a dragon and bathing in it's blood.It's not the best for initial sharpening until you cut through the factory edge and get it set up. If you don't know how, get some help. And for another shameless plug for a trusted dealer, buy some inexpensive Moras from www.ragweedforge.com to practise on first.