Global GS-3; perfect for those who prefer the shorter blades...
Written: Mar 15 '08 (Updated Mar 15 '08)
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Pros: Great utility knife with a shorter blade than common cook's knives
Cons: I prefer the longer blades myself, but this is great for my wife
The Bottom Line: I recommend Global knives, and this one fits the shorter blade preference.
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| ivplay's Full Review: Yoshkin Global Petty Knife GS-3 |
Having a good set of knives in the arsenal can make all the difference between an enjoyable session of cooking and a frustrating, messy turn of events. Quite some time ago I decided to take a leap and purchase a knife of quality manufacture, the Global hollow edge Santoku knife. I loved it so much that I tried to use it for everything, which was good as the knife set we owned previously was old and worn out. However, I soon realized that a 7” Santoku isn’t ideal for small, precise cuts, and my Global collection grew by one. The Global 4 inch paring knive GS-7 was my second foray into the world of expensive yet quality knives. Wanting something in between my wife purchased the GS-3, a cook’s knife with a relatively short 5 inch blade made to the same exacting standards of Global, a leader in quality cutlery.
I first noticed the Global line of cutlery on the popular Food Network show Everyday Italian starring Giada DeLaurentiis. My wife is surprised I ever saw the knives with Giada’s bouncing personality, but truthfully the striking design and sleek looks were what drew me to the knives, not Giada! After doing some research I found out that Global knives are forged by Yoshikin Steel of Japan and due to the metal composition used in the blade as well as the shaping techniques employed they seem to hold their edge longer than most knives. Most Global knives have been created with a straight edge as opposed to a beveled edge, meaning that the blade has a longer cutting surface. This particular knife from Global is beveled making it perfect for either right or left handed use, and both sides of the blade therefore need to be sharpened when the time comes. Global uses a proprietary alloy called CROMOVA 18 consisting of a mixture of 18% Chromium (CRO), Molybdenum (MO) and Vanadium (VA) for construction of their blades, and this combination makes a hard yet lightweight knife which holds it’s edge for many uses.
The GS-3 resembles a miniature cook’s knife, meaning that it has a slightly curved edge towards the tip and the back of the knife drops off to meet up and create a slightly sharp sticking point. The blade itself is five and a quarter inches long, and the weight of the knife is a little over 3.5 ounces at 100 grams. The blade and handle are one single piece of steel while the blade is hollowed and filled with sand to achieve perfect balance. The Global line handles have striking black dimples in the handle section for grip and looks. The GS-3 knife is nice and lightweight, balanced well for cutting almost anything as a cook’s knife should be. For my larger hands I still prefer to use the Santoku for the majority of my cuts, but for more precise cuts on larger items (cutting apart a whole chicken at the joints, for example) I will switch to the GS-3. My wife, on the other hand, prefers the GS-3 for most all her uses as her smaller hands can manipulate this knife to a higher degree than the Santoku, or at least that is what she has told me. I think she is just intimidated by the larger Santoku…
Global knives are very easy to clean and keep clean as there are no seams for food and other bits to collect in as you will find on tang-and-hilt type knives. Thinking to the typical knife with a wooden or composite handle there are seams in the wood and composite for microbes to grow, and as the knife ages the tang and hilt separate slightly allowing for bits and pieces to stick. These can then break down and destroy other knives, but not the Global line! Cleaning the knife should never be done via the dishwasher, but rather with a warm soapy rag. If you want the knife to look its best at all times, I recommend drying with a towel right away and storing it in the knife block. This will keep water spots from forming and also will minimize the time in which the blade is exposed to water.
While I don’t use the knife that often, I am very impressed with the quality of the GS-3 as well as the other knives I have purchased from Global. My wife loves the utility of the knife, indicating to me that those who prefer shorter blades should definitely invest in one of these babies. I don't need a wide assortment of knives anymore, as just a few high quality knives should be more than enough for most all people. The Global GS-3 is a great knife with wonderful balance, a quality blade and good looks. I recommend this knife with a five star rating for those who would prefer the shorter blade.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): dont recall
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