Fallkniven are using a laminate steel because such a steel is at least 20% stronger than a solid stainless steel. Designing a survival knife you always have to consider about the strength of the knife since you might be forced to use the knife beyond standards. Usually we go for strong low/medium carbon stainless steel for the outer layers and add VG10, Cobalt-Special or Super Gold Powder Steel as a center steel. The 420J2 is a low-carbon high chromium alloy steel and we are using that because of its strength and its almost corrosion-free properties. We’re using VG2 stainless steel as well and, with a higher carbon content, the VG2 steel is less scratch sensitive than the 420J2, a little stronger but also more expensive and tougher to work.