Global Knives......
Discussion
Yes, I like mine, so can't complain. Especially since getting a Minosharp water sharpener, as they were long overdue a sharpening (does a good enough job and is easy to use with little risk).
However, lots of people say they can't get along with the feel and the relative light weight of Globals, so it's really best to get yourself along to a stockist and see how you like them.
However, lots of people say they can't get along with the feel and the relative light weight of Globals, so it's really best to get yourself along to a stockist and see how you like them.
There are many excellent Japanese alternatives, most with western handles: www.japanesechefsknife.com . Hiromoto and misono are two nice brands, but everything on that site is good...
Looking back, maybe I'm wrong in saying that the balance felt weird. More likely they just felt suspiciously light in the hand.
I like a knife with a decent heft to it, and I remember when these burst on the scene in the UK during the mid 1990's. All, and I mean all, of the tv celebs seemed to be using them at one point! Anyway, one of the chefs in a 3 AA rosette kitchen I was working in at the time bought a full set.
The rest of the brigade (7 or 8 of us) all tried them & to say they divided opinion is an understatement.
Some loved them, but most just thought they were odd & felt strangely cheap, though they were bling-tastic at the time as we hadn't seen anything like them in the years before.
If you want to buy Global knives, then you absolutely must try them before you buy. I mean borrow someone else's & slice some veg with one or something, not just hold it in your hand for 2 minutes in a shop.
I like a knife with a decent heft to it, and I remember when these burst on the scene in the UK during the mid 1990's. All, and I mean all, of the tv celebs seemed to be using them at one point! Anyway, one of the chefs in a 3 AA rosette kitchen I was working in at the time bought a full set.
The rest of the brigade (7 or 8 of us) all tried them & to say they divided opinion is an understatement.
Some loved them, but most just thought they were odd & felt strangely cheap, though they were bling-tastic at the time as we hadn't seen anything like them in the years before.
If you want to buy Global knives, then you absolutely must try them before you buy. I mean borrow someone else's & slice some veg with one or something, not just hold it in your hand for 2 minutes in a shop.
I like my chef knife but have heard that people relate Global product like marmite either love or hate relationship. A lot of people just don't like the handle, my advice is try one as the grip is one of the most important aspect of the knife. Most knives at this price range will be made of good steel and being well balanced.
Thanks peeps.
I'm not totally stuck on the idea of Global, hence the 'alternatives'.
The Mrs is a keen , (and very good), cook but the knives she's using are carp. She's asked for a filleting knife amongst others so I thought Id get something decent, and the Global name has been mentioned. She hasn't used one though so appreciate the advise above.
Being a complete novice on these matters I couldn't see a filleting knife in the above link, that's not to say there wasn't one though!
Any UK based links?
I'm not totally stuck on the idea of Global, hence the 'alternatives'.
The Mrs is a keen , (and very good), cook but the knives she's using are carp. She's asked for a filleting knife amongst others so I thought Id get something decent, and the Global name has been mentioned. She hasn't used one though so appreciate the advise above.
Being a complete novice on these matters I couldn't see a filleting knife in the above link, that's not to say there wasn't one though!

Any UK based links?
Michel Roux jr uses them and he is God to me, so they must be good.
I have had a set for about five years now and really like them until recently. I was chopping a large amount of veg with the chefs knife and started getting cramp in my hand like when you write too much. I also found that if your hands were wet then the knife could rotate in your hand.
I bought a chef's knife off off the Japanese knife site.
I still like my Globals, they are easily sharpened on the proper water wheel and stay sharp for long enough.
I have had a set for about five years now and really like them until recently. I was chopping a large amount of veg with the chefs knife and started getting cramp in my hand like when you write too much. I also found that if your hands were wet then the knife could rotate in your hand.
I bought a chef's knife off off the Japanese knife site.
I still like my Globals, they are easily sharpened on the proper water wheel and stay sharp for long enough.
iiyama said:
Being a complete novice on these matters I couldn't see a filleting knife in the above link, that's not to say there wasn't one though! 
The Japanese have quite a different philosophy when in comes to filleting, boning etc - they don't use flexible knives, but thick heavy ones (often with a single bevel). For filleting fish, they use something called a Deba, and for boning they use a Honesuki. They clearly works very well, but it's a bit different to the western way of doing things. 
Some lovely Debas at http://www.japanesechefsknife.com/KKSeries.html but probably not what your wife is looking for...
iiyama said:
How do use those then? I thought all filleting knives had flexible blades?
Perhaps this might be suitable? - http://www.amazon.co.uk/GS11-Global-Utility-Knife-...uncinqsix said:
iiyama said:
How do use those then? I thought all filleting knives had flexible blades?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7__yMkGvzc She has got pretty small hands so I think a shop visit is in order. Forgot to say earlier that I did buy her a set of knives some time back that I think are essentially a Global copy, made by Berghaus. They just dont stay sharp!
Edited by iiyama on Friday 4th January 09:49
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