Ginsan (Silver 3)

Ginsan (銀三, also written Gingami No. 3 or Silver 3) is a Japanese stainless steel with enough chromium to resist rust but a structure that behaves much like a carbon steel when you sharpen it. It takes a keen edge, gives clear feedback on the whetstone, and does not feel slow or “gummy” the way some harder stainless steels can. Makers often use it for single-bevel and traditional shapes that would once have been carbon only, so a cook can have that sharpening experience without the drying-and-oiling routine that bare carbon needs.