Inside the handle there's even more to this concept--a hollow space filled with an exact amount of sand to balance the weight of the blade. Flow of that sand from end to end is expected during use, to keep that balance perfect. It's a fine idea, but whether it's something you'll actually be able to feel while working, I have my doubts. But I'll go along with the concept as long as the "fine balance" seems to be a valid key point.

There's no argument to be found about CROMOVA steel, an advanced alloy including molybdenum and vanadium and famous for hardness and strength. CROMOVA 18 steel makes the rest of the Global concept possible--a flat grind that extends the acute edge bevel up the blade. The resulting knife is thin and strong, with a razor sharp edge that zips through the work with very little resistance.

The edge is hard enough to chip if used on frozen food. Use this pastry or bread knife on pastry or bread; if you slice meat, you risk damaging the serrations on bones. Only work on wooden or plastic cutting boards; the edge is at risk on stone or ceramic as well. When it does require sharpening, this serrated knife should be returned to the factory for work.

Add this cook's knife to complete the set.

Find this Yoshikin Global Cromova Bread Knife:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this knife on eBay:

New G 9 Global G 9 8 3 4 Inch Bread Serrated Knife US $81.00   3 Bids Auction Ends: 13h 52m Make it yours...

Global 22 cm 9” BREAD Knife G 9 – Brand New in Box US $46.01   10 Bids Auction Ends: 3d 17h 28m Make it yours...

GLOBAL YOSHIKIN G 9 22cm Bread Knife Chefs US $125.00   Auction Ends: 26d 6h 49m Make it yours...

The Global 440 S/B MinoSharp Plus is a sample of the efficiency and simplicity of this well made--and warranted for life--sharpening system. The two double wheeled grinding stations offer both coarse grit for quick adjustments and fine grit for a finishing polish. Use of the system is simple. Fill the wheel compartment with water and run the knife blade through the slots a few times, first through the white stones and then through the pink stones. Don't put much pressure on the blade and keep it straight; as you pull the knife through, the wheels should turn. Although this won't reach the entire length of the blade (leaving a short section near the handle untouched) it is a very serviceable and easy alternative to the trickier waterstone process.

Wheels will eventually wear out, but are replaceable (at your cost) and the MinoSharp will work for any fine edge (non serrated) double bevel knife--even Western style blades. Be aware that any knife you sharpen with this system will have the narrow bevel of the Japanese style when you're done. Many Western steels will fold when ground that thin.

Find this Global MinoSharp Plus:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

With hollow seamless stainless steel handles, filled with precise amounts of sand to balance blade weight, the modern design allows you to work quickly with less fatigue. The efficient blade gives you more control and leaves cut food in better condition, contributing to the appearance of the plated result. Lighter, leaner, and more efficient, these blades are very different than traditional Western cutlery and Western companies are now struggling to catch up. If you've grown up with the heavier forged knives of Western kitchens, the step to Japanese tools will require a change in habits and skills, but it will be worth it.

Global's Cromova stainless steel is hard, ice-tempered to increase blade strength and edge-holding ability, and designed for cutting--not prying or bending or chopping. Medium to large bones are things it can't handle; fine bones can be cut by pressing directly down on the blade, but rolling the blade forward can damage the edge. Global edges are acutely angled, the sides of the bevel ground concave, but the thin edge is hard enough to chip against a surface like bone.

With hollow seamless stainless steel handles, filled with precise amounts of sand to balance blade weight, the modern design allows you to work quickly with less fatigue. The efficient design gives you more control and leaves cut food in better condition, contributing to the appearance of the plated result.

Find this Yoshikin Global Cromova Cook's Knife:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this knife on eBay:

Global GS 3 5 Inch Cooks Knife New Chefs Accessories Cutlery Knives Dining US $89.52   Auction Ends: 19d 6h 28m Make it yours...

NEW Global GS 3 5 Inch Cooks Knife US $89.99   Auction Ends: 12d 8h 1m Make it yours...

Global 8 Eight Inch Chef or Cooks Knife US $60.00   13 Bids Auction Ends: 3d 15h 54m Make it yours...

This double stone sharpening system from Global, with two sets of sharpening wheels and two grades of grit, is a compromise. Used properly it will do a satisfactory job, but follow directions and take your time. Always use a light stroke, and keep the blade parallel to the sharpening groove. Start with the rough set and after a few strokes move to the medium set for a few more. The grinding wheels should turn with the stroke of the blade; if you press hard enough to jam the grinder you are not doing it right.

The Minosharp system is designed for Global knives, but will work on any thin bladed Japanese double beveled style. The stones are set to grind the narrowly angled edge of a Japanese chef's blade, not the wider bevel favored by most Western cutlers. They will work on Western fine edge (non-serrated) double beveled blades, but since (for example) Solingen steel is softer than the alloy Global uses, it wouldn't be wise to run a Henckels carving knife through the Minosharp. The resulting edge would be too delicate.

Find this Global Minosharp Plus Knife Sharpener :

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

The Cromova 18 stainless steel in this knife is harder than most western forged knives, with a thinner blade and more acutely beveled edge as well. The edge is tempered hard enough to chip if used on hard surfaces, bone or frozen food, so this is a specialized knife, not a general purpose workhorse. It finds plenty of application in the average kitchen, anyway, effortlessly slicing through vegetables and meats without distortion of the food. Efficiency of cut also decreases fatigue in the wrist, with those benefits helped along by the uplifted ergonomic handle and the large finger notch at the blade base. Multiple hollows ground in the blade decrease friction, and the hollow handle is filled with just enough sand to balance the weight of the knife blade--in a stressful job where ounces do count, those are important features.

Some adjustments will have to made if this is the first Global knife you've purchased. You will need a different sharpening method, because using a sharpening steel on this knife may damage the edge. Flat water stones or special grinding systems are available. Many new owners also suggest stocking more vegetables than usual, because the ordinary work becomes fun once again, and you may run out.

You can also find this santoku as part of a 3-piece knife set.

Find this Global Santoku Knife:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this knife on eBay:

Global 5 1 4 inch Santoku Chefs Knife NEW US $80.95   Auction Ends: 27d 13h 12m Make it yours...

Global 7 inch Santoku Chefs Knife NEW US $114.95   Auction Ends: 27d 13h 12m Make it yours...

Global 3 Piece Santoku Knife Set NEW US $228.95   Auction Ends: 22d 16h 59m Make it yours...

I've always thought that Global makes a fine looking knife with a futuristic aesthetic that is equally functional. Global knives offer a fine entry into the world of Japanese steel for the cook accustomed to softer and heavier Western style knives.

This set offers a 3.5" paring knife, a 5.25" utility knife, and a 7" "hollow ground" santuko which should be referred to more accurately as a santuko with kullens or "hollows" ground into the sides of the blade. Kullens are meant to reduce the occurrence of food sticking to the blade after being cut. In my experience, kullens simply make a knife look a lot cooler, with little noticeable difference in performance between standard blades and blades with kullens.

As a good all around set, I'd prefer to see a proper gyuto or chef's knife in lieu of the santuko, but if you prefer a shorter knife or a santuko, this is an excellent set which will provide the foundation of a good kit for a home or pro cook.

Find this Global Santoku Knife Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

The special steel in this knife contains a high percentage of chromium for stain resistance, and two exotic metals, vanadium and molybdenum, which enhance the knife's edge retention. Harder than famous alloys from Western cutlers, Cromova 18 blades need a little special care. They shouldn't be used for heavy chopping work, and may be damaged if sharpened with a honing steel. Global recommends diamond hones or other special sharpening systems.

Marketed as a general purpose kitchen knife, this Global knife is a fine choice for paring knife work as well as for slicing larger vegetables for sandwiches or salads, trimming meat, or boning fish and poultry. The all stainless steel forged construction means there are no gaps to fill with food particles; a quick cleanup by hand keeps the utility knife sanitary and protects the edge from dishwasher damage.

Compare this with the smaller Cromova paring knife.

Find this Global Cromova 18 Paring Knife:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

The flat taper-ground forged blade is strong enough to guide accurately through the work, without the tendency to bend and wander that stamped steel knives show in use. The thin profile of the blade, ground with that slender Japanese taper, slips beneath the peel of fruits and vegetables almost without effort. The dimpled stainless steel handle has enough contour to fit most Western hands without being bulky. Just be careful if you're used to dull knives with wedge shaped edges--if you're in the habit of cutting with the edge against your thumb you'll need a supply of bandaids. This knife is sharp.

As with the larger blades in the Global line, special attention should be given to the edge to protect it from chipping--use it only on wood or plastic cutting boards and don't sharpen it with a honing steel. Global recommends several alternatives, one good solution being a diamond hone.

The Cromova 18 alloy stainless steel that gives this knife its edge holding ability also makes it highly stain resistant. Handwashing is recommended to protect the edge from damage during a machine wash cycle.

Find this Global Paring Knife:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this paring knife on eBay:

New G 2338 Global 3 Piece Utility Knife Set Chefs Utility Paring Knife US $165.00   Auction Ends: 6d 14h 10m Make it yours...

Global 4 1 4 inch Paring Knife NEW US $68.95   Auction Ends: 22d 17h 14m Make it yours...

Global 3 1 2 inch Western Style Paring Knife NEW US $59.95   Auction Ends: 22d 16h 58m Make it yours...

Western cleavers tend to rely on the weight and mass of the cleaver to power through materials, with secondary consideration for the edge beyond making it tough. Fortunately, Global has built a cleaver which depends more than just brute force to get the job done. What sets this one apart ultimately comes down to the well executed design. The design of the Global cleaver relies on the use of a harder steel than is typically seen in knives from Western makers. This is very typical of Japanese blade design in general. Japanese makers employ a harder steel which can be used to create a significantly lighter, thinner blade. As a general rule, as blades become harder and thinner, the steel becomes more brittle and prone to chipping. This is a concern particularly when they meet hard substances like bones or the thick dry stem of a large fall squash, in the case of one cook I know who ruined his gyutou in an ill advised attempt to play samurai during a lighthearted moment in the kitchen. Obviously, a cleaver must have a very robust blade to hold up to the demands of butchering meats and poultry and cutting through bones, so a thin blade isn't indicated, but by utilizing a harder blade which isn't so hard that makes it overly prone to chipping and damage, they've been able to create a cleaver which can be made thinner and lighter. For more efficient cutting, they also employ gently curved blade profile finished with a convex edge grind. A convex edge by its very nature is quite robust, yet can be made very sharp for easier cutting. Global has created a cleaver which achieves a harmony amongst all of these different factors to make a lighter, tough, efficient blade which requires less effort to achieve the same result. If you're a professional, this is an especially desirable attribute when you consider how many times over a career you might employ a cleaver. It could mean the difference between the premature end of a career due to repetitive stress injury or happy retirement. When you add in the fact that the cleaver has no seams to speak of due to the solid steel construction, making it quite sanitary, and the comfortable, gently rounded handle, it's hard to think of anything negative to say about it at all.

This cleaver is the most comfortable and efficient one I've had the pleasure to use, so wouldn't hesitate to pick one up if I had the need for a cleaver. Unfortunately, if budget is a concern, the one thing which might make you want to pick something else is the price tag. Even if you catch it on sale, you'll likely spend more than one hundred dollars (USD). For a professional butcher or cook who uses a cleaver on a regular basis, it's not difficult to justify purchasing this one, but for the occasional user or the budget conscious, this may not be the ideal choice. If I were on a budget, I'd certainly take a look at the offerings from Forschner, as their dedicated butcher knives are found in nearly every butcher shop and kitchen I've seen. As a second choice, particularly if the maintenance of carbon steel isn't a significant consideration, many Chinatowns and Asian grocers carry Chinese cleavers which would do a fine job at a fraction of the cost of the Global.

Find this Global Meat Cleaver Knife:

• Click here to find this Knife at Amazon.com