Global (cutlery)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Set of Global knives with holding block and steel.

Global (often written in all capitalized letters as "GLOBAL") is a brand of cutlery products made by Yoshikin of Japan. Their selection of knives are known for their distinctive one piece, molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel design. These are considered premium level products with a single knife often costing upwards of $100 (USD). Global products can often be found at specialty cooking retailers.

Compared to conventional European knives such as J. A. Henckels or Wusthof, Global knives are made from a significantly harder alloy of steel, use a thinner blade thickness, and are ground to a narrower angle. This produces an extremely sharp knife which keeps its edge longer and allows for more accurate work, but takes longer to sharpen when it becomes dull. Because of this, the manufacturer recommends using whetstones and ceramic sharpening rods as opposed to the European sharpening steel. In addition, Global knives are renowned for their surprisingly light weight and even balance, a trait achieved by hollowing out the handle during production.

Global knives have a distinctive appearance with black dimples present on the handle and on one model of their storage block. While assisting in providing a firm grip on the knife, the dimples are divisive on an aesthetic level. In addition, the handles themselves have been criticized for being too narrow, causing a slippery grip for some users.^{[citation needed]}

While originally the Global line consisted only of Japanese-style knives (such as the Santoku and Sashimi knife), in recent years with their introduction into other markets, the company has begun producing more knives typically associated with European producers such as Henckels or Wusthof and has also expanded into cutlery.

Global knives are used by such well known chefs as Susur Lee, Giada De Laurentiis and a number of the Iron Chefs on the original Iron Chef television series. Chef Anthony Bourdain, writing in Kitchen Confidential, recommends Global knives as a lightweight and inexpensive alternative to European-made knives.

In 2006, the G Series knives was placed #46 on the Japanesque Modern Committee listing ^[1]