Some of their knives use N690 steel which seems to be on par with 440C or AUS8. This is based on one I sharpened and used lightly. They use nylon washers, not bronze phosphor. The coatings scratch off very easily, some are stated as Teflon coatings. They are a solid knife made with industry standard materials. IMHO they are worth 50 to $60, not the $150+ they are asking for them. Some of their knives are made by Fox Cutlery in Italy. This was done to avoid fees associated with sending them abroad. These knives are clearly marked with the Fox logo. They are a solid knife also but worth the same as stated above. For the $150+ they want you can get a much better product if it is available in your area.