Abstract: A rolled wire or rod of stainless steel having a fine-grain structure and intended for the manufacture of drawn spring wire and rope wire of high mechanical strength and high ductility. The carbon content, 0.04-0.07%, is much lower than in conventional stainless steels for spring wire and rope wire, and the nickel and chromium contents, 8-9.5% and 18-19% respectively, have been adjusted to said carbon content such that a chromium content of 18% corresponds to a nickel content of 8.0-8.8% when the carbon content is 0.04% and to a nickel content of 8.8-9.5% when the carbon content is 0.07%, and a chromium content of 19% corresponds to a nickel content below 8.3% when the carbon content is 0.04% and to a nickel content of 8.4-9.2% when the carbon content is 0.07%. The grain size of the wire or rod is 8-13 ASTM, preferably 10-12 ASTM.