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About Global Cutlery
Global Cutlery merges traditional Japanese culture with the needs of the modern chef in its collection of stainless steel knives and accessories. Using a combination of balance, strength, sharpness, and style, the brand’s award-winning blades are recognized around the world.
The brand has received many awards over its last 35 years in business, including:
- 2010-2019 Chef’s Favorite Knife Brand from Restaurant Magazine
- 2014-2016 Chef’s Favorite Knife Brand from Chef’s Choice Awards
- 2011 Global G-2 Chef’s Knife won Best Kitchen Gadget from GQ Magazine
- 2004 Tried & Tested Award from Good Housekeeping
In this Global knives review, we’ll take a close look at the brand and its bestsellers, provide customer ratings, information on discounts, and more, to help you decide if they’re the right choice for you.
Overview of Global Cutlery
In all that we do, balance is key. That’s one of the guiding principles behind the construction of Global Cutlery, a Japanese-made knife company that takes inspiration from the art of Samurai sword-making.
When he began designing for the brand in 1985, craftsman Komin Yamada feared that an all stainless steel knife would appear “cold” to the Japanese consumer. Purposely designing his knives with, what’s now the brand’s signature, divots on the handle, Yamada hoped that the feature would make the knives more enticing.
But Yamada isn’t the only face behind the brand. He was commissioned by Mino Tsuchida, affectionately known as Mr. Global. Tsuchida gave Yamada full reign over the design of the brand’s first-ever knife, leaving it to him to decide what looked and felt right.
It turns out that Yamada’s hunch about the divots was correct, as professional and home chefs across the country began to value the superiorly sharp edge of Global’s knives.
What started as a collection of 12 blades soon evolved into over one hundred varieties as the brand began shipping across the globe. According to the company’s website, it is now an “internationally renowned” company.
The brand is fully operated out of Japan, using high-quality raw materials to form its blades.
Before we get into the enticing details of its collection, this Global knives review will first point you towards some pros and cons.
Pros
- Hundreds of knives and accessories
- Stays sharper longer than the average knife
- Balanced weight makes it easy to handle
- Ergonomic handle fits comfortably in your hand
- Has won many awards from various publications and organizations
- Global knives sale section
- Lifetime Warranty
- Ships worldwide
Cons
- Some customers say that the blades do not hold an edge and feel awkward in their hands
- Must use a whetstone to sharpen, may be tricky for some users
- More expensive than other companies
The brand has a knife for just about any occasion. As a Japanese-made company, its selection starts at everyday steak knives and extends to sushi, fillet, and specialty blades, like the Global Shantoku knife.
In the next section of this Global knives review, we’ll sift through a selection of the brand’s knives and sets, as well as the preferred sharpening tool.
Global Knives Review
The knives we’ll be focusing on below are all forged from one piece of CROMOVA 18 stainless steel with hollow handles filled with sand. These are the brand’s best-selling knives, ranging from universal chef’s and vegetable knives to the more intricate paring and boning knives.
Global Cutlery Classic 3″ Paring Knife Review
With cooking, it’s all in the details. The Classic 3” Paring Knife helps you tackle small projects like peeling potatoes or preparing artichokes.
One special detail that sets this knife apart from others is its large, non-slip, ergonomic handle that’s been designed to give you control over your tasks. It stops your hand from slipping in tight situations where accuracy is vital.
Cut into the details with this Global knife for $45.
Global Cutlery Classic 5.5” Vegetable Knife – Hollow Ground Review
A small knife that packs a punch when it comes to prep. Use the Classic 5.5” Vegetable Knife – Hollow Ground for chopping, dicing, and julienning vegetables.
Though it’s sharp enough to slice through a tomato, reserve this style of knife for more hearty jobs like prepping a stew or preparing a vegetable platter. Add this kitchen staple to your collection for $95.
Global Cutlery Classic 6.25″ Flexible Boning Knife Review
Using a whole chicken or fish comes with benefits, but the de-boning part can seem a little intimidating if you’ve never done it before. The Classic 6.25” Flexible Boning Knife makes the task a little easier, effortlessly separating flesh from bone.
The thin and pliable blade is resilient when you come up against a tough spot, for example, slicing along a chicken’s spine when preparing Spatchcock. Its pointed edge helps you get into tight spaces to remove every bit of meat possible.
Get adventurous in the kitchen with the Classic 6.25” Flexible Boning Knife for $110.
Global Cutlery Classic 6.25″ Chef’s Knife – Hollow Ground Review
A purposeful kitchen knife, the Classic 6.25” Chef’s Knife was designed to make quick work of tedious cutting tasks. Its pointed edge makes this knife ideal for slicing into curved foods like peppers before dicing.
You’ll be able to get a grip with the ergonomic handle as you quickly julienne vegetables and chop herbs. Prepare a meal with confidence with this Global chef knife for $125.
Global Cutlery Classic 7″ Vegetable Knife – Hollow Ground Review
Known to professionals as the Nakiri knife, this square-tipped blade is a fantastic chopper. Put it to the test on raw steak, carrots, and even the notoriously hard Japanese pumpkin.
The grooved edges help you breeze through your cutting job, minimizing sticking so you can spend less time in the kitchen. Made from just one piece of steel, this hollow-handled blade is an impressive feat. It has been ice-tempered before being filled with sand for a harder edge and a more balanced feel.
Get chopping with the Classic 7” Vegetable Knife – Hollow Ground for $130.
Global Cutlery UKON 9″ Bread Knife – GLOBAL UKON Review
If you’ve ever tried cutting bread with a chopping knife, then you probably know the value of a bread knife. Designed to saw through tender and crusty loaves, the UKON 9” Bread Knife – Global UKON is 10% sharper than any of Global’s former collections.
Though it’s simply a bread knife, this blade is anything but simple. The edges are extremely sharp and the blade itself is thicker than your average bread knife. These two elements combined mean that your knife will stay sharper and last longer.
Made of durable stainless steel, the 9” bread knife won’t stain or chip. The grooved handle fits comfortably in the palm of your hand for a grip that won’t slip. Change the way you cut bread forever with this next-level bread knife for $100 (from $150).
Global Knife Set Review
The brand’s knife sets include a variety of blades created for different aspects of cooking. Below, this Global knives review will feature the brand’s best-selling sets to help reinvent your kitchen and upgrade your cooking skills.
Global Cutlery Classic 3-Piece Knife Set (G-80338) Review
Each blade forged from one piece of steel, the Classic 3-Piece Knife Set (G-80338) includes three diverse blades to heat things up in the kitchen. You’ll get:
- 7” Santoku Knife
- 5″ Chef’s Utility Knife
- 3.5″ Paring Knife
With non-slip, hollow handles filled with sand for a balanced weight, these knives are made from CROMOVA 18, a blend of Chromium, Vanadium, and Molybdenum that has been ice-tempered for unmatched hardness and performance.
Begin building your Global knife set with these classics for $130 (was $250).
Global Cutlery Kabuto 7-Piece Knife Block Set Review
With a serious look, the Kabuto 7-Piece Knife Block Set is ready for action. An assortment of knives hangs pierced through a black and clear, modern Global knife block. It’s the perfect addition to a kitchen outfitted with stainless steel appliances.
This Global knives set includes:
- 3″ Paring Knife
- 4.5″ Utility Knife
- 5” Chef’s Prep Knife
- 5.5″ Vegetable Knife
- 8″ Chef’s Knife
- 8.5” Bread Knife
The knives are made with Global’s signature metal that’s designed to stay sharp for longer. With hollow, stainless steel handles filled with sand, these knives have a balanced feel and ergonomic fit, for an exceptional experience.
Get serious about cooking with the Kabuto 7-Piece Knife Block Set for $400.
Global Knife Sharpener Review
Modern knife sharpeners are fine, but they can lead to overdoing it or can put too much pressure on your blade. This Global knives review will feature the brand’s best-selling traditional knife sharpener below that keeps your blade in superior shape.
Global Cutlery Combination Water Whetstone Review
If the thought of sharpening your knife with a whetstone intimidates you—don’t let it. The process is fairly simple and if done correctly may very well be better than other sharpening methods.
The Combination Water Whetstone is an 11” x 1.8” x 3.8” block with coarse and fine grit sides. One side is 220-grit and perfect for smoothing out chipped edges, while the other is 1000-grit to allow for an incredibly sharp knife—whether it’s Japanese or European.
This set comes with large and small sharpening guide rails, as well as a storage box to keep it all clean and tidy. Add this traditional sharpening block to your knife set for $100.
How Do You Sharpen Kamikoto Knives?
Just like many things in this world, there is a right and wrong way to sharpen your Kamikoto knives. For starters, they can only be sharpened using a Japanese whetstone the proper way.
Be sure to follow the instructions in the video on the brand’s website and remember these tips:
- Soak your whetstone in water for 10 minutes or until there are no more bubbles
- Put the whetstone on your countertop, on top of a non-slip surface
- Begin sliding your knife at a 45-degree angle across the stone (diagonally), starting with the side with the coarser grit and before working on the finer side
- Keep wetting the stone as you sharpen
How Do You Cut With A Kamikoto Knife?
Kamikoto has a selection of knives that are meant for different purposes. In general, it’s best to use a smooth motion when cutting, this includes the use of Global steak knives as well. Avoid uncontrolled chopping. Instead, cut with purpose.
What Angle Are Kamikoto Knives?
When sharpening your Kamikoto knife, you’ll need to position it at a 10-15-degree angle against the whetstone. That’s the optimal angle that aligns with the blade’s and will ensure your knife is sharpened properly.
Global Cutlery Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
The company has made quite the name for itself throughout the years. It appears to be a trustworthy brand with quality products, but no Global knives review would be complete without hearing from customers.
Ahead, you’ll read user testimonials sourced from Amazon, Reddit, and Bed, Bath & Beyond that bring to light some of the brand’s product’s defining features, as well as any issues faced.
The Global Knife Oriental Cook Knife 18cm is rated 4.9/5 stars by 209 customers on Amazon. In terms of a breakdown, this product is extremely impressive. 92% of customers gave this knife a perfect score, while just 1% gave it 1 star.
It appears that pretty much everyone who bought this knife loved it, but let’s take a closer look at what they had to say.
Many buyers said that this knife arrived “razor sharp” right out of the box and is “lighter than it looks.” One that went into a little more detail about the feel wrote, “it has the right weight and is very comfortable to hold, the quality is amazing.” This is what we expected to find with a Global knife, but appreciate knowing it’s not overly heavy.
We zoomed in on the 1% of 1-star reviews to see what issues they encountered with this knife. But, the rating wasn’t due to the quality of the knife, just a mix-up by the brand.
The Global knives review read, “Global shipped a box which said Chef’s Knife but inside was a bread knife.” The buyer said they did this twice and ended up just returning it for a refund. Hey, mix-ups happen, but we understand it can be frustrating.
We scooted over to Reddit to find more comments because the site’s users usually go into more detail in their comments. One Global knives thread housed a discussion between users about the quality and performance of the brand’s blades.
A positive review reads, “They’re nice to look at, balanced very well, not hard to sharpen like some people that have never had one here claim and hold an edge okay.” Sharpening depends on personal skill and comfort with the whetstone.
On the other hand, we found that some users have a love/hate relationship with the brand’s knives. One comment read, “The handle is the most polarizing part of the knife…The steel is soft, won’t hold much of an edge and sharpening them is like sharpening a chalkboard eraser.” This is interesting because it is the complete opposite of what Global says about its knives.
To complete this section of our Global knives review, we scoped out Bed, Bath & Beyond to see if we could find some more ratings. The 9” Chef’s Knife has an overall rating of 4.9/5 stars awarded by 17 customers.
The rating is based on three aspects:
- Quality: 5/5 stars
- Value: 4.8/5 stars
- Features: 5/5 stars
One very happy customer wrote of the 9” Chef’s Knife, “It’s beautiful. It’s sharp, light, and amazingly easy to handle. Even after having my other Japanese knife sharpened, the Global knife does a better job.” Good for you Global. We’re impressed.
There aren’t any reviews that rate this knife under 4 stars, but the one that did rate it at 4 said that the only issue is in regards to the sharpening skills needed to own one: “these CR metal knives need an experienced knife sharpener and a ceramic honing steel.” While we do agree, the instructional video linked in this Global knives review is fairly straightforward.
From what we’ve found, Global knives are decent and a great entry-level kitchen knife. Some customers have had them for years and others (who speak semi-negatively) still use them at home or in a professional setting.
Is Global Cutlery Worth It?
Sharpening appears to be the largest issue with the brand’s knives, second to holding an edge, but the two do go hand in hand. We think that if you feel comfortable enough to use a whetstone, then Global Cutlery’s knives are worth the buy.
We found hundreds of customers that swear by these knives. In fact, it was hard to find shoppers that found fault with the brand’s products. Most users report that they’re well balanced, not too heavy, and make slicing and dicing much easier.
We think that they’re appropriately priced considering the material, craftsmanship, and details that go into their creation. We didn’t find any major issues with Global knives but read that there are counterfeits out there, so be sure to look out for the brand’s stamp of authenticity.
Global Cutlery Promotions & Discounts
At the time of this Global knives review, there are no special promotions currently available. But, the brand does always have a killer clearance section with a selection of sharp products.
Where to Buy Global Cutlery
The company’s products are sold all over the world. But in the USA, you can find them at Globalcutleryusa.com, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Williams Sonoma, Sur la Table, A Cook’s Companion, and many others.
To find a Global knife store nearest you, use the Store Locator tool on the company’s website.
FAQ
Who owns Global Cutlery?
Yoshida Metal Industry owns Global Cutlery. Komin Yoshida is the original and present designer of the brand’s knives.
Where are Global knives from?
Global Cutlery is a Japanese company. Its headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Tsubame, Japan.
What is Global Cutlery’s Shipping Policy?
Global Cutlery ships around the world, but if you’re on its US site, you can only order to the 48 continental states, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. If you live outside of those areas, simply switch the version of the website you’re on.
Global Cutlery US offers two shipping options:
- Standard FedEx Ground 5-10 business days delivery
- FedEx 2-Day Express Delivery 2 business days
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout, but if you have an order total of over $50, Standard shipping is free. Due to the nature of Global’s product (knives), a signature is required upon delivery, so you’ll need to be sure you’re home on the day it’s delivered. Or, simply get it sent to your office if that doesn’t work for your schedule.
What is Global Cutlery’s Return Policy?
Your Global products come with a lifetime warranty that guarantees they are free from defects within normal use and proper care or they will repair or replace them.
As for returns, you can send your order back for any reason within 30 days of purchase as long as it has not been opened or used. You’ll also need to include the original proof of payment. If you bought from a Global knife outlet, you will need to return the item through that same shop.
Global will process your refund in about 10-14 days from when the brand receives it.
How to Contact Global Cutlery
If you still have questions that this Global knives review did not answer, you can reach out to the brand by using the following methods:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1-877-772-5467
Its customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm PST.
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