The steel for this batch was A2 and 5/32" thick. Jeremy Horton (Horton Knives: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=825), is a friend of Ban and has kindly offered me to send my knives his way for HT. I forget the standard, but I think for these knives, it's generally around 58rc, I'll need to double check on that. As for handles, I like micarta, so black linen and brown canvas (cheaper compared to green and maroon stuff), but I'd like to try some sweet exotic wood someday when I'm better. Yup that's the bag.