All About Pocket Knives

I saw a secondhand Gerber Balance USA 8" Chef's Knife on the big auction site for about $15 shipped. With pin-through, full tang construction, and aluminum handles, they look like really solid knives. At the price, I think I'll add this one to my block in the kitchen. They seem newer than those with the fancy handles, however. So, I'm wondering, what steel do these use, and how good are these? Secondly, Balance can be confusing. They used that name for a cheap, imported multitool 10 years ago or so.

I'm pretty sure they're 440c Steel, like the Sportsman series was back in the day.
I have a couple of Balance+ and a couple of the classic Walnut series which are near identical other than the handles/scales.
They take and hold an edge very well, and are so thin the edge comes up fast.
My Classic Walnut 5-1/4" chef's utility knife gets used more than any knife I own and the edge holds up excellent.