Global Razor Sharp Lightweight Chef Knife, 8-Inch

Last updated: June 1, 2023

Global Razor Sharp Lightweight Chef Knife, 8-Inch
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We looked at the top Chef's Knives and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Chef Knife you should buy.

Overall Take

In our analysis of 45 expert reviews, the Global Razor Sharp Lightweight Chef Knife, 8-Inch placed 8th when we looked at the top 12 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Dice potatoes and herbs for some savory home fries with the Global Classic chef’s knife. This knife is made from a single piece of high quality CROMOVA 18 stainless steel and has a large blade so this knife can be used for most of your needs. The ice hardened, convex edge can hold a sharp edge for a long time. It has an ergonomic handle with a dimple pattern making it comfortable and slip resistant, useful for repetitive slicing. The knifeā€™s perfect weight is achieved through the hollow handle that is filled with sand for ideal balance. You can use this knife for slicing vegetables, chopping meats, or cutting fruits for a healthy fruit salad. 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

Expert Reviews


What experts liked

Lightweight knife with a molybdenum/vanadium stainless-steel blade that holds its sharpness.
Made from molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel, the blade is razor sharp and will retain its edge.
The blade produces thin, even slices and is capable of cutting into even the toughest foods.
Its stainless steel makeup (exact properties are proprietary) resists staining or corrosion and remains wicked sharp during use.

What experts didn't like

Some say the grip is slippery and the knife is prone to chipping. Others don't like the light weight.
The blade itself is made of stamped steel rather than the forged steel of other knives on this list, which makes it harder than other blades but also more prone to chipping or breaking.

Our Expert Consultant

Julie Chernoff
Culinary Expert

Julie Chernoff is a long-time member of Les Dames dā€™Escoffier (past president of the Chicago Chapter, and current co-chair of the LDEI Legacy Awards Committee), the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ) and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Chernoff is the dining editor of Better, a lifestyle website and print magazine. Her journalism started in the test kitchens of Weight Watchers Magazine. She holds a BA in English from Yale University and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. She has spent the last few decades styling, photographing, teaching, developing recipes, editing, thinking and writing about food.

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