Our Gesshin Outdoor series is a result of our relationship with an extremely talented blacksmith who is focused entirely on his craft of making outdoor knives and nata (Japanese style hatchets). After meeting him some years ago, Sara and I were immediately impressed with the quality of his work. However, it was his attitude that really won us over. He's the kind of guy who smiles all day because he loves what he does so much. We initially tried to get him to make kitchen knives, but he politely refused. We decided that we loved his work so much that we would expand our collection to include the kinds of things he does best. He works primarily with blue #2 steel.