Global Reviews

I was a commited fan of Henkels, Trident, and Sabatier until Global knives were recomended by a professional I trust. I'd been battling carpal tunnel syndrome and many of my knives were just too heavy and unbalanced for steady use. I began with two of the vegetable cleavers/knives and continued to buy more. They are as sharp as razors and hold an edge beautifully. The edge is very different from that of European cutlery, so you must learn a different sharpening technique, but that comes quickly. If you are thinking of buying premium knives, be sure you try Global.

Global knives are always tops for reliability and durability, and they are the only knives I use. This particular set gives pretty much all the average household will need, and they require little maintanence.

The two knives I found most useful are the Chef's knife, which is the one you will use the most, and the bread knife. The Chef's knife is lightweight and razor sharp, and can be used for anything, from cutting tough meats to finely chopping viggies. The bread knife is excellent because it doesn't dull as quickly as most bread knives tend to. Nothing kills me more than a fresh loaf of bread getting crushed because the knife wasn't sharp enough to cut from the top.

The other knives in the set, such as the carving and paring knives, are also very useful, depending on what you are cooking. All knives in the set come with Global's trademark handel grip, which makes gripping the knife easy, and there is less chance of the knife slipping, possibly lopping off a finger. You can't beat that.

For the price, this is quite possibly the best knife set you can buy. The knives are top quality, and will require only the occasional sharpening. For someone who is considering a career as a professional chef, this set is indespensible. But for any household, this is also a great and practical investment.

Not a pro or anything, but I love these knives. . . got them after having a Chicago Cutlerey set, and these are vastly superior - work great, look great. But another great benefit -- for kitchen clutzes like me, no wooden handles to get trashed from soakings or dishwashers, and no plastic to accidentally melt on stove burners, etc. The all steel construction is the way to go. I also highly recommend getting a magnet bar to show them off in the kitchen :)

These have got to be the sweetest knives I have ever used. I used to use a Henckle chef knife, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Global.

I only have two beefs with these knives:

1) They are so sharp that they can leave deep gouges in your cutting board if you are careless (especially the serrated while cutting bread).

2) The knive handle is more difficult to dry because its dimples like to retain water. When it is wet it can create an unusual tactile sensation in your hand.

These are minor things though. The bottom line is that the knives make cutting and chopping a pleasure.

And they look cool too!

The Global 5 knife set features the standard lightweight, ultra sharp knives which make the Global name famous. The addition of a knife dock/rack makes storing your knives even easier. The set starts with the basic 8 inch chef knife with a slighly flexible blade that can be used to chop vegetables or fillet a fish. The set contains a number of additional blades from a bread knife to utility and paring knives. The first thing you'll do when you get these knives is test out making paper thin slices of everything in your kitchen. Pretty amazing. The one thing some people have rightly pointed out, is that for people who want a heavier blade, or a larger handle, look for the thicker blades such as the 8 1/4" forged chef knife. However, if you want to make all your cutting, chopping and prep work go quickly and easily, this is a wonderful knife set.

Having worked with knives for some time, I am strongly biased toward the Global knives. They have great balance in your hand, are incredibly sharp (and stay that way!), and provide overall utility in a knife that is a bit smaller and lighter than the competition. My wife was initially against me getting these, and now uses them regularly and prefers them to any other brand by far - she said "even if these cost more, they are definitely worth it". I have a hard time working in anyone else's kitchen with even expensive German knives, they just don't have the same great feel. The narrow blade and sharp angle of the blade must have something to do with why they cut so well. I am not a designer, but they certainly put it all together in a well designed knife that is well-suited to even the most descriminating cook. I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed with these Global knives.

This knife is great for hard cheeses, I can cut them without the slices crumbling to pieces. It feels very comfortable and sturdy in my hand like my other Global knife. The blade has a serrated edge so you will not be able to sharpen it easily, but if you only use it for cheese, it should stay sharp for a long time. This is another beautiful Global knife.

This beautiful Global knife comprises all distinctiveness of that great brand, including the price though ...
It is great for semi-hard and hard cheeses (although I would not strongly recommend it for Parmesan cheese, despite that it worked fine for me, since Wustohof parmesan cheese knife is appreciably more efficient for that purpose). Don't pay much attention on those that tell You advices such as that other [less expensive] imitations with similar shape would do the same job (I tried several of those prior I got Global). On the other hand, don't expect this knife to do a good job for soft cheeses.
Global knifes need a tad amount of attention and care, and in return beside superb design and balance (of course, which is an individual thing) are very thankful and durable. So if You are not cheese addict and prepared to give this knife care that it needs, then rather buy something else (cheaper that You can toast and replace after short time) - but of course, You won't know what You are missing ...

As a professional chef, I would buy this knife again and again. The factory edge is amazing, I have never seen a knife as sharp as this, right out of the box. Even with the Deba having only one side it is extremely easy to sharpen. I have used all the major knife brands and I find the steel in all of Global knives to be of the best quality.You can not go wrong if you purchase of this knife!

This knife is simply a joy to use. It's nicely weighted, but not heavy. It feels great in your hand. And it's the sharpest knife I've cut with. It is beveled only on the right side (the side you see in the photo), while the other side is flat. This shape causes what you are cutting to glide neatly off to the right. The Deba is especially fine for cutting fish for sushi or sashimi, or even that basil chiffonade. I find myself using it for almost everything. As long as you're not left-handed, you won't regret this purchase.

This is a large sized stone with a good non slip base. The honing surface is reasonably thick, and very uniform. A minute of honing will turn a factory edge into a razor edge. No gimmicks, no bull. You see the results of your effort right now, and quickly learn to fine tune your technique. Unless you have very badly abused blades, this stone and a good steel will be all you need to keep an envious edge on your knives.

I bought this stone to detail the edge of the new set of Calphalon forged kitchen knives that I recently purchased. I have used oriental water stones in the past, and this stone is as good as any I have used. With just a few strokes, it will turn a Calphalon, Henckles, or Wusthof into a Gillette. With this stone and a good steel, your knives will last far beyond your years.

Global knives are the only knives I would have in my kitchen. In terms of comfort, durability, and performance, Global makes the best knives I have ever used.

The light weight of the knife allows for easy chopping without the wrist strain that heavier chef's knives tend to give. The grip is comfortable, making the knife easy to grasp without slipping, and the blade only needs the occasional sharpening. I use mine for all sorts of duties, like chopping veggies, crushing garlic, and even slicing through tough meats. This particular knife has never let me down, and it could cut through a shoe and still slice a tomato paper thin. And with the aformentioned qualities, it makes any novice slice like a pro.

The price might seem a bit high, but when you think about the durability of this particular knife when compared to less expensive, lesser quality knives, you can see why it is worth the extra money. A cheaper quality knife will dull, ship, or even break over time, meaning that it will need to be replaced more often. You might as well get a better knife. This is the one I would recommend, and myself and my friends use it, and we have no complaints.

As a professional cook, I don't like to waste time with gadgets or gimmicks at work. I was tired of the the dull, poor quality knives that my company supplies. I had the opportunity to try a Wusthoff knife during a busy shift. While it was better than the company knives,the weight made delicate tasks difficult. I held the Global at a cutlery shop and immediately noticed the balance and light weight it possesed. I purchased it on the spot. The knife is the best I have ever used. Global was able to produce a superior knife and it has proven itself day in and day out by handling everything from cutting frozen beef to slicing through tomatoes with ease. I will never go back to another brand, the knife is THAT good.

A knife is a knife is knife right? No not really. I had a friend who was a sushi chef, who the majority of his coworkers had these crazy custom made knives from japan that were imported (i dont even think they had a brand to them) but he was too cheap to pay and got a set of these. i tried his out right before i was ready to purchase some expensive henckles and found the balance and shape of the knife to be much more... well how can you describe a cutting expierience? i guess it was more cutt-arific...like i said i was ready to buy some henckles (spelling?) and he suggested to spend a few extra bucks and grab these... After forking over the dough, I have to say that I am huge huge fan of the global brand in general now and i bought one more knife and when i get the chance I am going to get more. i am excited to have some steak knives soon.

like others mentioned, these are lightweight, which some chef's and wannabe chefs probably would discredit or not like. Also the handles are smaller than other knives... but it doesn't seem to matter... i have big hands and i still love em'. they just feel good and they make me want to cut things for the sake of cutting... i guess i'm insane. call the mental institution

I have had mine for about 2 years now and still haven't sharpenend it yet (i use it a lot, i have yet to cut a tin can with it like Popeil would, but maybe some rainy day i'll try it)... anyway i'm not saying you don't need to sharpen them because it is probably a good idea... but i have yet to after two years of abuse and they seem to be about as sharp as when i first got them.

i would recommend this brand over others such as henckles or weisterholdodsodaidfpdslfj (or however you spell it). in fact i was so picky about making sure i found the knife that defined me as a person, that i forced the kids at the store up the street (williams sonoma) to let me play with a few different brands one evening after a cooking class and i have to say hands down this is my choice for knivery.

i'm sure there are others out there that might argue not having the weight on the knife is bad, but this damn thing is so sharp you don't need the weight. the only thing missing is a dragon in the blade (that was a joke referring to the QVC channel)

what else to say? the design is pretty damn contemporary and i have had several girls compliment me on them saying they look hip. in fact they did go well with the chicken, and i think they may have even raised brownie points!

maybe cooking utensils can define you as a person?

GO GLOBAL and HAPPY CUTTING!

The look is stunning, the blade quality is very high and the weight is much lighter than other knives. But the handle is not so ergonomic as some other knives (I like the twin select from Henckels) and gets quickly uncomfortably warm when I use it. I would recommend this knife to women due to its lightness and, of course, to design-lovers.

The only thing better than the way the Global knives cut is the way they look. I have been a diehard user of Wusthof Trident Gran Prix knives, but since I bought this set, I have stuck my Wusthofs in the drawer.

The edge on the blades is phenomonal, and I have yet to use the ceramic stone I got with this set. I have decided to replace all of my old knives over the next few months.

We already had a Global Chef Knife when we got this 3 piece set last Christmas. We tried Global after buying a dissappointing Henkel. We are now diehard Global fans. When I visit people's homes and they have dull knives, I am further in love with my Global. It makes such a difference to have a good knife when cooking! Pay bon marche bon!

I got this knife because chef's knives are too wide at the back and wedge the cuts and santoku knives with their ultra thin edges should be saved for softer foods. For cutting squash,carrots and other hard foods this knife is perfect. Great balance, amazingly sharp, cleans easily, and worth every penny.

I loved my 8 inch Global chef knife so much I ordered this veggie knife. Oh wow, this thing is perfectly balanced and because of it's smaller size it is just about perfect for most veggies. It also fits in your hand extremely well. If you are going to cut up a potato, it is hard to beat the chef's knife. However, for cutting up a tomato, carrot, etc. this thing is the best tool I have ever used. Just wonderful!

Until 2 years ago, I used German knives, but even though I steeled with every use, they seemed to dull too quickly. When introduced to the Global line, the first thing that struck me was how well they held a razor sharp edge. Add to that excellent balance and outstanding design and you have top stock!

I've 8 in my collection now and my previous work horse 10" chefs knife has been relegated to cutting pizza!

The only other piece that rates a bit higher is my KASUMI DAMASCUS Japanese SANTOKU Chefs Knife... that is my all time favorite piece.

In summary, this global vegetable knife serves us well everyday. It is simply a pleasure to use, doing its job well while never stressing your grip.

I've worked quite a few kitchens in my life most of them being Japanese restaraunts so I have a little bit of experience with knives and I must say... this Global knife is one of the best I've had the opportunity to use. I first heard about Global in the book "Kitchen Confidential" (Which is a great book, and if you have worked a kitchen or two in your life you will relate to a lot of the stories!). I checked this knife out at the local cutlery store and was immediately impressed. Although not as hefty as my regular 8" chef's, it's balance was amazing. The shaped handle made handling of this knife a true pleasure. The blade truly holds it's edge, and slices and chops like a dream. You will not be dissapointed with this knife, and I have no doubt it will become your knife of choice when working in the kitchen.

One note, although the company recommends using their diamond steel to sharpen due to how hard the steel in the knife is, I found that using my regular steel on occassion works just fine. I know I'm wearing my steel down a little quicker but it realigned the edge just fine.

Yeah, it IS expensive, but knives are man's prime tool with which to rework the world for his intention. While this is an excellent food preparation knife, I have also found that it is a brilliant and expensive tool for the irresponsible, like myself, to pry open jammed doors or open up boxes of books from Amazon. And it STILL makes me happy when it cuts the heck out of some salmon filet or prime loin.

The handle is very nice. You won't slip by sweating on this knife. No siree.

This was my first Global knife, and I've since bought four more. After three years of daily use it's still as sharp as ever, with only a few passes over a diamond steel occasionally. (If you are going to use Global knives, bite the bullet and get a diamond steel.)Global knives are frightenly sharp when they are new, even the serrated knives like the bread knife, which appear more benign. Be careful with these things until you get used to them, even if you've had good German knives before. (No, you won't cut your fingers,you'll be naturally cautious about that, you'll nick an arm or a wrist by brushing the blade, something I never even knew could happen until I got my 10 inch Global chef.)

The eight inch Oriental chef is a great little chopper and slicer, and the very wide blade is nice for lifting slices, but do think about the traditional 8 inch Global chef as your mainstay knife if you're only getting one. This one is balanced for a "push" stroke, rather than the pull stroke that most Western cooks use, the handle is a little high for a good rocker chop -- at least until you get used to it, and the back of the blade is curved, so if you're used to scraping your cutting board with the spine of your blade, this one won't do the trick. Your veggies will escape under the curve. The blade is hollow ground (beveled on both sides) not single sided like the denba, so you don't have to worry about being left or right handed.

None of this makes the knife a bad one, but it does take some getting used to and frankly, I'm more comfortable with the 8 inch chef as my mainstay knife. (The 10 inch chef is a bit of a monster for most tasks. Great for cutting a pizza all the way across in a single rock, but, well... I guess I shouldn't admit I use my good knives on pizza, huh?) You won't go wrong with a Global knife, it's just a question of which one feels right for you.

One more thing: these knives look like modern art, if that sort of thing matters to you. You can see the quality in them as well as feel it.

The Global 10" is a great knife that comes with a very sharp edge. It is rather light (at least for a 10" knife) and is well balanced. It is well situated for both slicing meats and cutting and dicing vegetables, as it is easy to hold the knife forward towards its blade for a quick and balanced wrist action. The only reason I gave this knife 4 stars and not five is due to the handle. While it is dimpled it can still get slippery when cutting fatty meat. I would prefer a synthetic handle covering, but otherwise this is a well designed tool -- perhaps the best chef's knife available now.

I have the 12 inch version of this knife as well
as the 10 inch bread knife!

Both are incredibly sharp and wonderfully balanced.
Global knives use a very hard steel, so they are not
dish washer proof and need to be cleaned and dried
by hand after use! On the other hand it means they
stay sharp for longer! Another detail is that they
use a non-standard angle for the blade, so a normal
knife sharpener will not work on them as well...

Very expensive, but will last very, very long if

cared for and I really love these knives. I take
them with me whenever I go to a cooking/eating party
at friends places, as using other knives just feels
awkward now...

worth every penny....

I recently got this knife; I had been wanting a Global Chef's knife since I was given a Global utility knife as a gift. I was very impressed with it, to say the least.
This knife is very sharp and Stays sharp. Unlike the famous European colleagues that look very classic, but go dull in a short time and require round the clock steeling and sharpening, the Global can do the same amount of work with much less upkeep.
I would recommend this knife to anyone working in a kitchen, commercial or home use.
It is extremely light, and perfectly balanced. I use it at work, and it has never let me down. I do recommend the handheld sharpener for touch-ups, it returns the blade to a close factory edge.
It should be noted that the handle should be kept dry when you are working, because it will slip because of the nature of the design. That is it's only flaw.