Global 8" Chef's Knife

If you're reading this review, clearly you're in the market for a professional grade chef's knife. You've probably also considered offerings by Shun, Wusthof, and Henckels. Truth is, you really can't go wrong with the German knives. Nor can you go wrong with one of the Shun Elite knives. But that doesn't cut it (no pun intended), does it? You want the best. Quite frankly, I believe the Global G2 fits the bill.To be considered a 'good' knife it should:-Be correctly balanced- Have a full tang (or something similar). NOT bonded.- Have metal that can be sharpened to the point where it shaves arm-hair.- Retain its edge assuming regular knife-steel use.- Not stain (only applies to stainless steel knives)The Global G-2 easily exceeds these standards. It's a 'good' knife. But it really offers quite a bit more. Unlike the traditional French or German knives, it doesn't rely on weight to chop things. You'll notice it's a REALLY light knife when picking it up. Now, professional chefs who haven't used one might think this is a drawback. Interestingly, it isn't. Since the grind profile of the blade is relatively narrow, the entire knife becomes an agile cutting machine.The ergonomics are another key benefit of the Global G-2. You can really bring your hand up to the blade and comfortably chop for a while without any discomfort. You'd think the metal handle would get really slippery, but unless your hand is covered in bacon grease (which is bad technique) you won't have any issues. You do have to use proper knife skills to get the most out of this knife, but you might as well learn for your finger's sake.Interestingly, the G-2 is stamped and not forged. Now, this is VERY different than your run of the mill stamped knife. They use the stamping technique in order to make the knife much lighter. There's a forged version (the GF-33) but it's heavier and has a solid handle. I have actually grown to prefer the weight of the G-2. After a TON of vegetable chopping, the light weight of the G-2 is a godsend.The steel is not obnoxiously hard (HRC) unlike some other japanese knives, so any decent steel will do wonders on it.In conclusion, this is hands down the best general Chef's knife I have ever owned. It is a nice improvement on the heavy German designs at a competitive price.

I’ve had this knife for over 2 years now and just love it. It came super sharp out of the box and changed the way I view the importance of having a high quality chef’s knife, like the Global G-2. This knife glides through vegetables like you were cutting soft butter, so it’s easy to cut razor thin slices of potatoes and even tomatoes! This knife is perfectly balanced and feels light (5.9 oz), making it agile for easy chopping and mincing. Every aspect of the G-2 is meticulously designed (from the sand weighted handle to the fine polished edge), and it clearly shows.The details: The handle is very comfortable and the black divots provide a good, solid grip. The top of the handle can become a little slick due to the lack of those black dots. However, I’ve never felt like I lost a secure grip, even when pushing down on it directly, cutting through something tough like a butternut squash. Since the knife is all one piece, it feels natural to hold and is easy to clean. As with any knife though, comfort is in the hand of the beholder, and I recommend trying it out at some cooking store at the mall before buying. As other reviewers have noted, the handle isn’t large in terms of girth, which could be an issue for those with larger hands.The blade is amazing. It retains its edge very well and its sharpness makes it much safer and enjoyable to use than anything I have in the past. The length (8 inches) is great for all-purpose work. Very rarely do I find myself needing a longer knife, and I feel that anything longer would compromise maneuverability. The curve in the blade is also perfect for everything from mincing to slicing. As for maintenance, I sharpen it with a whetstone every few months of normal usage.

I didn't realize how primitive my knives were. This knife is beyond my expectations! It cuts so well and feels so good in hand! Money very well spent!

One of the best chef knife’s I’ve owned, extremely light,razor sharp. And extremely comfortable to hold a hand. 5/5