>>1922907440 steel is softer than say 1095, the main reason it's popular is it's corrosion resistance, that softness however lets it take a bit more abuse that would break a harder knife that will shatter where 440 will bend. It's also relatively easy to sharpen and keep sharp, so there's that, it's also much less expensive.
Hammered out and slightly modified.
It's the loaner knife.
