The Global GS-5 is made in Japan, and they are using their stainless steel called CROMOVA 18. The entire blade is from stainless steel. To prevent the knife from becoming slippery during use, they have added dimples that they sprayed black.
Knife Rockwell Hardness and Core Material
The steel from Global comes pre-stamped on a Rockwell of 56 that they heat treated to a Rockwell of 58. The edge retention should be around four-month due to the convex edge and lighter blade if you regularly use a honing rod. After that, a whetstone touch-up is needed.
Global GS-5 Blade profile
The blade profile is curved with no flat spots. You can rock with the knife heel area and use the front to slice. The curved profile works nicely with the knife length.
Global GS-5 Knife handle
The knife handle is uniquely shaped, and there is only one way to hold the knife. You get a handle that has a forced hand position to work comfortably. The painted black dimples help with the extra grip and prevent the knife from becoming slippery. The handle is on the smaller side and more suitable for small to medium hand sizes. If you have a medium to large hand, then the handle may cause discomfort and cramps if used for a more extended period.
Knuckle Clearance
The knuckle clearance is minimal, and if you have a large hand, you will hit the cutting board. Therefore the knife is more suitable for home cooks that don’t have to prep with speed.
Knife balance point
The knife balance point is in the middle at the fixed handle position. All other handle positions are not comfortable.
Fit and Finish
While there are no real noticeable quality control issues, the handle is nicely polished, and there are no sharp edges if you hold the knife at the fixed handle position. Keep in mind that the entire blade from the spine and the heel are not polished and will have sharp edges. While it is not noticeable during use, it may damage or leave a mark on your magnetic wooden bar.
Weight & Distal Spine Taper
The knife weighs 121 grams, and it also has a distal spine taper. The thickness at the heel is 1.8mm, 1.5mm in the middle, and 1mm at the front.
Conclusion
This vegetable cleaver from Global is unique and more suitable for home use. It works well for what they designed the knife to do. However, due to the smaller handle, it will not suit everyone in terms of comfort. This knife is part of the Global Classic series, which has smaller handles that suit small to medium hand sizes. If you have a medium to large hand size, you should look at the Ni series from Global.
🛒S H O P:
NA: Global Vegetable Knife GS-5 Classic Series – 140mm
EU: Global Vegetable Knife GS-5 Classic Series – 140mm
N O T E S:
The Classic series is more suitable for small/medium hand sizes. If you have medium to large hand sizes look a the Global Ni series and skip the Classic. Sai series has a fixed thumb rest and is quite big and more suitable for large hand sizes.
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