Thanks for the comment! This is a design I make and sell regularly, and I have a few others I may post on BladeForums in 4.5 and 5- inch blade lengths when they are finished. I personally use A-2 because it takes and holds an edge better than any other knife steel I have used yet; and that is what I consider first. As long as it is taken care of, it is not prone to rust in my experience either.