Global knives are manufactured by Yoshikin in Niigata, Japan. These knives are made by hand but they are not forged like many other high end knives; they are actually stamped out of sheets of steel. The blade is stamped from proprietary Cromova 18, which is a high carbon stainless steel that is resistant to stains, rust and corrosion, and the two handle halves are made from stainless steel. The blade and handle sides are then welded together.
Unlike other quality knives that use the tang or bolster to balance the knife, each of these handmade Global knives has a precise amount of sand added to the inside of the handle. This results in a clean, modern appearance with the knife blade seamlessly transitioning into the handle. This design is incredibly unique and has won design awards for its modern look.
There are three notable features that make Global knives so popular with chefs and home cooks alike: the astounding sharpness of the blade which is ground to a long straight edge, the beautifully smooth and modern Asian style, and the nimble feel and lightness of the knives which makes them a pleasure to use.
The late Anthony Bourdain said this about Global knives: "Most of the professionals I know have for years been retiring their Wusthofs and replacing them with the lightweight, easy-to-sharpen and relatively inexpensive vanadium steel Global knives, a very good Japanese product which has — in addition to its many other fine qualities — the added attraction of looking really cool."
