Each knife in the Alpha Olive Series begins as a single piece of specially alloyed Chrome-Vanadium-Moly cutlery steel, beginning with hand forging and continuing through more than forty separate steps in the production process before completion. The grip scales are crafted from very hard 100-200 year old olive wood which resists moisture and exhibits a beautiful grain giving each knife a special elegance all its own. Ice hardened stainless steel; hand sharpened not for the dishwasher! – X701/09 – 2 – B40-3