Global G-2 8-Inch 20cm Cook's Knife

by Global

Product Features

• Lightweight, precisely balanced 8-inch or 20cm chef's knife
• Blade made of high-tech molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel
• Edge retains razor sharpness exceptionally well
• Stainless-steel handle molded for comfort, dimpled for safe grip
• Lifetime warranty against defects and breakage

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches ; 0.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005OL44
• Item model number: G-2
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,526 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #7 in Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Knives & Cutlery Accessories > Chef's Knives

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

High tech from tip to handle, Global knives from Japan created a sensation when they burst onto the world's culinary stage as an alternative to traditional European-style cutlery. Blades are made of hard molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel and "face-ground" with a long taper rather than a short bevel so edges remain sharp longer than even the best high-carbon stainless-steel knives. Edges also are ground at a more acute angle than traditional European-style knives and arrive from the factory razor-sharp. Although Global also makes a "heavyweight" line for cooks who prefer hefty knives, its original knives--of which this 8-inch chef's knife is an example--have thinner blades and are lighter than traditional European-style knives. Global also dispensed with bolsters on its original knives to reduce weight. Balance is achieved by injecting a precise amount of sand for a particular blade style into a hollow handle. To ensure balance is continuous, the sand flows inside the handle as a blade is maneuvered. A finger notch between blade and handle provides safety.

Stainless-steel handles are Global's most striking feature. They're molded to fit the hand and dimpled to resist slipping. Smaller around than many European-style handles, they're easy for small-handed cooks to grasp and seamless for sanitation. Global recommends using a ceramic sharpener or a diamond steel instead of a metal sharpening steel for its knives, supplemented by a synthetic whetstone, a ceramic whetstone, or a Shinkansen sharpener. Global also makes a Sharpening Guide Rail so blades can be honed on a whetstone at the proper angle. Global knives should be hand washed to protect edges. They carry a lifetime warranty against defects and breakage. --Fred Brack

Product Description

This 8-in. all-purpose Chef's Knife is Global's most popular knife. Your top choice for slicing large quantities of vegetables, fruit and meat quickly and effectively. Loved by professional chefs around the world, Global knives are an excellent choice for the serious home cook. The thin and razor sharp Global blade allows the cook to cleanly slice through foods, preserving the integrity of the ingredient and maximizing its flavor. The majority of Global knives are ground to a straight point rather than the western style of beveling the edge. To balance their knives Global uses a hollow handle that is filled with just the right amount of sand to create the correct balance. The handle has its own unique darkened dimples for a non-slip grip. Because the knives are very light weight they reduce hand fatigue. Global knives have a smooth contour and seamless, all stainless construction that eliminates food and dirt traps. Global knifes are forged in Japan from CROMOVA 18 Stainless Steel, a blend of 18 percent chromium for good stain resistance plus molybdenum and vanadium which gives excellent edge retention..

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect, November 20, 2002

By 

Herb "Herb" (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Global G-2 8-Inch 20cm Cook's Knife (Kitchen)

This is one of the first global knives I bought. I loved it the first time I held it in my hands. What impressed me most was the perfect balance, the lightweight, and the sharpness. However, what may be perfect for me may not be perfect for you. I'd recommend anyone who is shopping for cutlery to go to a store and try how the knife feels in your hands before buying. And if you can borrow from a friend to try, that's even better.

Having used this knife for several years now, my initial impressions haven't changed. This is still my favorite knife for most tasks. I maintain it regularly with a steel and it is as sharp as it ever was. I have found though that for certain tasks like cutting slits into an onion for dicing or cutting root vegetables, I do prefer a heavier knife (that's why I bought another forged global knife), but that is just personal preference. All in all, a great general purpose kitchen knife.

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great value - great knife, April 3, 2002

By 

Julian P Killingley - See all my reviews

This review is from: Global G-2 8-Inch 20cm Cook's Knife (Kitchen)

I have been a keen amateur chef for more than 30 years. I was given a full set of Sabatier chef's knives as a wedding present and have been using them since 1970. I had recently decided that 30+ years of sharpening had taken their toll on the Sabatiers and that new knives were called for - but what should I buy?

At heart I am a traditionalist and the appearance of the Global range had put me off them. Fortunately I recently read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential and noted his ringing endorsement of the Global range. I decided to buy the 8-inch chef's knife to see how I got on with it. I have never looked back!

Despite its rather unconventional look, the knife has excellent ergonomic design. It is well balanced, readily gripped when wet and astoundingly sharp. TMOT, you are unlikely ever to meet a sharper knife. Hold a sheet of paper from the top with one hand out in front of you and then cut downwards with the other - this knife readily cuts the paper without it being tensioned. That is what we mean by a sharp knife.

As noted in the Amazon description, the knife's handle is fairly small. My hand is a medium male hand - about 3.25 inches or 8.5 cm across its back. The knife is an excellent fit for my hand - and could probably accommodate a hand upto 4 inches or 10 cm across the back. However, I have seen some chefs with meaty hands that might find this knife a less than perfect fit. The knife is fairly light - it weighs 5.5 ounces or 160 grammes.

In all I am well satisfied with this purchase and shall go on to replace all my Sabatiers with the Global equivalents. Oh yes - and if you haven't yet read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential, buy that too - but be careful not to cut yourself when you start laughing thinking about some of the things he has to say about professional cooks...

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best. Knife. Ever., February 16, 2006

By 

Stephen Green "VodkaPundit.com" (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Global G-2 8-Inch 20cm Cook's Knife (Kitchen)

I've been a German knife snob for years. But this 8-inch chef's knife by Japan's Global is the finest blade I've ever owned. Period.

Maybe it's not as easy to sharpen as a Wustof or a Henckel, but then again, it holds its edge ten times longer.

I've spent ten years and hundreds (and hundreds and hundreds!) of dollars collecting German steel. Global is so good that it has me thinking of starting all over again.