Blue Steel #1 is similar to Blue Steel No.2, but the additional Carbon and Tungsten / Wolfram result in even better edge retention and toughness. The steel is perhaps most commonly seen in high-grade Japanese traditional single-bevel edged knives.

Suminagashi translates as floating ink and refers to the beautiful marbled wave-like patterns that extend through the blade from the tip to the heel, unveiling a new mosaic with every sharpening.