Kotetsu was a famous sword craftsman in the Edo Era (1596-1868). In the early 1900’s, Kusutaro Takahashi christened his new knife-crafting company Ittosai-Kotetsu,meaning "a stroke of Kotetsu’s sword." For nearly a century, the name Ittosai-Kotetsu has been engraved on every knife produced by his company, and has come to beknown as the honorable insignia of a high-quality knife maker.
Ittosai Stain-Resistant Layered Steel
These Ittosai knives are among the sharpest Western-style knives available. The blade features high-carbon stain-resistant steel with additional cobalt and vanadium. This provides the long-lasting sharpness and hardness (HRC 63) of carbon steel, and the ease of maintenance of stain-resistant steel. | 
