1941 was only a few years after the Sheffield metallurgist Harry Brierley discovered the basic stainless alloy.

Accroding to the potted history in a trade metals catalogue I once had, he'd been investigating better steels for gun-making. He found a particular combination that was markedly corrosion-resistant, making him think of more peaceful applications; and had some trial cutlery made from it for a friend in the catering trade….

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I've just the wry thought that archaeologists in 3000 years time will conclude mankind discovered how to make virually non-corrodible culinary utensils in the Bronze Age then lost the ability and had to eat with its fingers until discovering spoons made from the "Perfect" metal 3000 years later!

Some (the?) first stainless cuttlery was branded "Firth Staybrite" and is completely non magnetic. A few years bag it had a very high scrap value and I was told that it was used for non-mag hand tools and prosthetic limb joints.

SS was discovered by accident in 1913 at Woolwich Arsenal when experimental rifling that had poor results was left in the rain and did not rust.

The first maker was Herberts and in 2013 the centenary was celebrated by the Swedish owner of Herbert's business who made some ingots of SS with the union jack pattern thru the bar when it was cut.

More correctly the "Union Flag" I believe.

My Mother bought a Raleigh Lady’s cycle in 1949 and was fitted with wheel rims that had Stabrite stamped on them, still using it in the 80s and they looked as good as the day they were made!

Stainless Steel comes in many forms 304, 316 ect. they are all "Resistant" to corrosion but not stain proof. Many industries make use of these steel types, a tour around a Pressurised Water Reactor power station wiil show a huge amount stainless in use,from small pipe fittings to pumpcasings and impellors. Can be interesting to machine!