Abstract: A method of producing a stainless steel produces steel sheets having excellent surface brightness. The method includes performing a cold rolling operation using a work roll having a Young's modulus between 25,000 to 70,000 kg/mm.sup.2 in one or more stands of a tandem mill having a plurality of stands. Preferably the work roll is composed of a tungsten carbide based hard metal alloy. The diameter of a work roll at a final stand of the tandem mill is equal to or smaller than a diameter of a work roll in the previous stand. It is preferable that the work roll is dimensioned to have a diameter between 150 mm to 400 mm. In addition, it is preferable that a cold rolling operation is achieved at a reduction between 25% to 60% reduction in the final stand of the tandem mill.