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The Global brand of knives, handmade in Japan, is popular among home users and chefs. The G-2 8-inch chef’s knife, their best-selling product, shares some of the design characteristics of other Japanese knives. It is very lightweight with a thin blade and it keeps a very sharp edge. However, rather than a separate piece of a softer material for a handle, such as wood or plastic, the knife is all of one piece with a metal handle. The actual length is 20-cm or 7.87 inches.
Is the Global G-2 Sharp?
Let’s get the question of sharpness out of the way. Is the Global G-2 sharp? Yes. Out of the box, it is extremely sharp and will slice through vegetables and meat with ease, even for very thin slices. For everyday chopping and dicing, this knife is as sharp as they come.
The blade is made of molybdenum, vanadium, and chromium in a combo called Cromova 18. It is sharpened on both sides, like Western knives, but to an extremely acute 15-degree angle rather than a beveled edge (the average European edge is ground to 20-22 degrees).
- Lightweight, precisely balanced 8-inch or 20cm chefs 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
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You will be able to see the edge geometry as soon as you take the knife out of its box as it extends at least a quarter of an inch from the edge. The blade is curved like Western knives and suitable for rocking-style motion.
And, as long as you use a proper cutting board and do not abuse the knife it will retain its edge for a long time, especially with regular use of a honing steel.
See also: Which Cutting Board Should You Buy, Wood or Plastic?
But unlike some stainless steel blades, this one is soft enough to make sharpening on a whetstone a less frustrating task than some other stainless steel blades.
While this softer steel may be easier to sharpen, it may not retain its edge as well as blades made of harder steel. Keep in mind that the softer edge, however, will tend to roll over more and can be returned to true by honing.
Let’s be honest, though. Most quality knives are sharp out of the box. More important is how the knife feels in your hand, and how balanced it is, as well as whether the weight and design of the knife is right for you.
The G-2 is super lightweight, weighing in at only six ounces, and has a nice balance in the hand. Global says their knives are one piece. This does not mean, however, that the handle and blade are all made from one piece of metal.
There is no tang on this knife, the blade and the handle are made separately and then welded together. The handle is molded to a rounded shape like other Japanese style knives, which usually feature hidden tang handles, with small inset dimples to help with grip.
The handle is hollow, and sand is injected into it in precisely the right amount to balance the weight. Although there is no bolster, there is a rounded finger-notch built in to give more control.
Global G-2 8-Inch Cook’s Knife Cons
Those with smaller hands will appreciate the lightweight and the shape of the blade. But I’ll be honest with you, I wouldn’t want to use this knife all day long in a professional kitchen.
Like other reviewers, I felt that the metal dimpled handle would make for sore hands after a while, and, if your hands are wet, this thing is slippery as an eel. For average use and dry hands, if you like a very light-weight, very sharp knife, it’s a winner.
There have been some rumors of the handle breaking away from the knife at the spot where it is welded. The Global line does, however, come with a lifetime warranty against breakage or other defects.
Still, a knife breaking while your using it could be dangerous, but I do not know how accurate these reports are, or how many times this has happened.
Since this knife is inevitably compared to the Shun Classic 8-inch, you may want to know that while the Global has a warranty against breakage or defects, the Shun has an even better warranty which includes free lifetime sharpening.
- JAPANESE CHEFS KNIFE: The Shun 8-inch Classic Chefs knife is the perfect all-purpose kitchen knife. Its ideal for preparing fruit, vegetables, meat and more.
- WIDE, CURVED BLADE: This Japanese kitchen knife has a wide blade that keeps knuckles off the cutting board with a curved belly that can be rocked through herbs and spices for a very fine mince.
- HIGH-QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Constructed with Shuns proprietary VG-MAX cutting core and clad in 68 layers of stainless Damascus, this chef knife is corrosion and stain resistant with a strong, razor-sharp edge.
- COMFORTABLE HANDLE: The D-shaped, ebony-finished Pakkawood handle is durable, beautiful, doesnt harbor bacteria, and comfortable to use for both left- and right-handed users.
- TRADITIONAL, ARTISAN CUTLERY: Inspired by the traditions of ancient Japan, Shun knives are handcrafted by highly skilled artisans to produce blades of unparalleled quality and beauty.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
This means that for as long as you own the knife, you can ship it to Shun (in their U.S. Oregon location), and they will return its edge to a like-new condition.
If you are new to cooking, or to quality knives in general, learn more about the chef’s knife plus other knives you may need for your kitchen.
