Global (often written in all capitalized letters as GLOBAL) is a brand of cutlery products made by Yoshikin of Japan. Their selection of knives are known for their distinctive one piece, molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel design. These are considered premium level products with a single knife often costing upwards of $100 (USD). Global products can often be found at specialty cooking retailers.
Compared to conventional European knives such as PUMA,J. A. Henckels or Wusthof, Global knives are made from a significantly harder alloy of steel, use a thinner blade thickness, and are ground to a narrower angle. This produces an extremely sharp knife which keeps its edge longer and allows for more accurate work, but takes longer to sharpen when it becomes dull. Because of this, the manufacturer recommends using whetstones and ceramic sharpening rods as opposed to the European sharpening steel. In addition, Global knives are renowned for their surprisingly light weight and even balance, a trait achieved by hollowing out the handle during production.