Interesting - same model knife available in different types of steel, at widely varying prices. Is there that much actual performance difference between the different steels? Is the increased price for different steels due to the cost of the raw steel or simply a "vanity charge"?

I would think a SRK in even the cheapest steel would see one through a bad ordeal or two, even though you might have to sharpen the blade in between episodes (Heavens, how awful!)