Where do knife steels come from?

[EOU]

Just posted something over in the edge rolling test stand section and it reminded us of a question that our members might be able to expand on. The question has to do with the development of modern steels used in knife making. We've heard that almost no new steels are developed for knives. The steels talked about and used frequently by knife makers and bladesmiths were usually developed for use in other industries. Most notably the tool and die industry. In fact, a very small percentage of these high grade steels are utilized by the knife industry when compared to their original and intended use. High quality steels only find there way to the knife industry when someone in the knife industry "borrows" a newly developed steel because they feel that it might just make a fine knife. The aforementioned is all conjecture as far as we are concerned. Can anyone either elevate or dispute these assertions?