Product Description

This 5.5-in. Vegetable Knife has a unique blade shape that encourages the cook to perform a slicing motion. A great all purpose knife for those with small hands or those that feel more confident working with shorter blades. 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5315 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Yoshikin
• Model: GS-5
• Dimensions: .80" h x 2.90" w x 11.60" l, .44 pounds

Features

• Lightweight, precisely balanced 5-1/2-inch knife for slicing, chopping vegetables
• 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

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 5-1/2-inch knife for precisely slicing and chopping vegetables 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

Customer Reviews

Most useful knife I own
I have 10 Global knives covering a wide range. I bought each individually over the course of several years and put quite a bit of thought into each purchase to ensure that it met a need and that the Global knife was the best designed knife of its kind (usually the case which is why I own more Global knives than other kinds). Despite my broad range of choice I find myself pulling the 5.5" vegetable knife off the wall more than all others. I'm a sharpening fanatic and this knife is unbelievable - I can effortlessly dry shave hair off my arm (it will grow back). I believe it's my most frequent choice because the size is just right for almost any chopping job - vegtables, fruit, meats, breads (you don't need a bread knife if your regular knife is insanely sharp), sandwiches and even some cheeses. The fact that the knife is blunt nosed initially did not attract me to it but the broad side of the knife is usefull for picking up food or spreading and makes the knive a bit less intimidating. The knife is ultra light in weight and the triangular handle, a unique design to Global knives, fits so well in your hand that I wonder why Global is the only company to make such a handle. I personally have not experienced the slipping problem that another reviewer has. The handle has a notch just before the blade so you finger is not even close to the cutting edge - it is a very safe design. I have other knives that are "nicer" in some respects but I don't use them as much and if I had to give away all my knives but one this would be the one I would keep.

Just about perfect!
I loved my 8 inch Global chef knife so much I ordered this veggie knife. Oh wow, this thing is perfectly balanced and because of it's smaller size it is just about perfect for most veggies. It also fits in your hand extremely well. If you are going to cut up a potato, it is hard to beat the chef's knife. However, for cutting up a tomato, carrot, etc. this thing is the best tool I have ever used. Just wonderful!

Performance is the reward
The look is atypical, but the cut is stunning. Before purchasing this knife, I read lots of reviews and looked at lots of knives, but I kept coming back to Global. I've never used a knife this sharp. When I got it home, I diced an overly ripe tomato - something I could not have done before without creating a messy puree - and was instantly gratified for my decision to buy this knife.

I will add more Global knives to my kitchen.