next best thing is damascus, that comes from arabic bladework and is generally four thousand fold; it is very good steel and forms a very sharp edge rendering a very resiliant and sharp blade; recently it's been applied to Japanese katana with excellent results; however skepticism does remain as to the actual process of damascus forging as much of the original refinement of that form of blacksmithing is believed to have been lost over the centuries... all the same they generally run on average $150; and they are sharp and strong