Furi and Global are two of the most popular knife brands in Australia, thanks to their quality, craftsmanship, and impressive warranties.
They both have been in business for more than two decades and have built strong reputations for creating innovative knives that are durable, well-balanced, and comfortable to use.
Trying to decide between the two? Read on as we break down the key things you should keep in mind when choosing, answer some commonly asked questions, and compare some of the best Furi and Global knives currently on the market.
Furi vs Global: Which is Best?
Global
Global is generally recognised as one of the market leaders in terms of the quality, balance, and longevity of its knives. The Japanese company focuses on producing modern Japanese knives and their products come with a lifetime warranty.
Global was founded in 1985, has a strong reputation, and has received many awards for their knives, they have also been used on Masterchef Australia.
However, for many home cooks the price of Global products is a bit too high.
Furi
Furi is an Australian company that offers some of the best value knives on the market. They produce sharp knives that are designed to be comfortable to hold and use thanks to their innovative reverse-wedge handle.
The Furi blades are manufactured in China to ensure quality is delivered at an affordable price point.
Furi makes their knives with quality Japanese Stainless Steel but one potential downside is that they don’t share the Rockwell rating or blade angle information on their product listings – something that Global shares for each of their products. Some users have commented that the Furi steel is softer than Global.
Verdict
Both brands are highly rated and respected and produce some of the best knives on the market.
The best for your kitchen will depend on your budget and personal preference when it comes to the handle shape, balance, and weight of the knife.
Recommended Furi and Global Knives
Furi Stainless Steel Pro Asian Utility Knife

Size: 12cm
Material: Japanese Stainless Steel
Weight: 130g
Warranty: 25 years
Pros: Versatile, wide blade, great for everyday use
Cons: Hand wash only
The Furi Pro Asian Utility Knife is a versatile 12cm blade that is able to handle small to medium chopping tasks. Despite being small, the blade is wide so can be used in the place of a western-style paring knife.
One of the key features of this handy knife is the scallops that work to reduce friction and mean you can get through cutting tasks quicker and easier.
This Furi knife features the characteristic reverse-wedge handle that sits comfortably in a pinch grip. As with most high-quality kitchen knives, this can be hand washed only and should be dried after washing. This kitchen knife comes with a 25-year warranty.
Furi Stainless Steel Pro Carving Knife

Size: 20cm
Material: Japanese Stainless Steel
Weight: 210g
Warranty: 25 years
Pros: Furi’s reverse wedge handle, comfortable to hold, balanced
Cons: No texture on the handle
The Furi Pro Carving Knife is a large, 20cm blade that boasts a European design. It is designed to be extremely sharp and offers improved edge retention. As this is a bigger knife (carving knives are often larger than a chef’s knife), the bolster is an important design feature for comfort and safety when using and sharpening.
One of the best things about this knife is the seamless construction which means there are no rivets and seams for food and bacteria to get caught in.
The carving knife weighs 210g, is balanced and durable. The knife is incredibly strong and the handle shape is good for control and comfort. One thing to point out is there is no added grip or texture on the handle which some users may prefer.
Global G-46 Classic Santoku Knife

Size: 18cm
Material: CROMOVA 18
Weight: 175g
Warranty: Lifetime
Pros: Lifetime guarantee, durable, seamless construction, well balanced
Cons: Textured handle is hard to clean
The Global Classic Santoku Knife is one of the classic line, the most popular series in the Global range. The classic series has 15-degree edges and weighted hollowed handles for optimum balance.
The Santoku knife has a flat blade with a unique convex edge, it is excellent if you are looking for a harder chef knife that will hold its shape and sharpness for longer.
As with Furi, the Global knives also have a seamless construction. One thing we will say is that the handle is quite short so it’s best for people with small- medium hands. If your hands are larger then the Global NI series may be better as the handles are slightly longer and larger.
There are a few big differences between this knife and the Furi options the sand-filled handle for balance and the texture on the handle to provide more grip for the user. The downside to the dimpled texture on the handle is it does make it harder to clean.
Global GSF-22 Utility Knife

Size: 11cm
Material: CROMOVA 18
Weight: 136g
Warranty: Lifetime
Pros: Nimble, high-quality, easy to sharpen
Cons: Short, slim handle
The 11cm Utility Knife is a smaller version of a chef knife, it is razor-sharp knife that although small is strong and good for cutting harder items. It is long-lasting and doesn’t need much sharpening to restore it when needed.
The handle is quite thin and short but the texture helps to provide additional grip. The seamless design makes this easy to clean although food and dirt can get caught in the handle texture.
RELATED: Global Vs Wusthof
Furi Stainless Steel Pro Paring Knife

Size: 9cm
Material: Japanese Stainless Steel
Weight: 180g
Warranty: 25 years
Pros: Low cost, seamless, strong
Cons: Heavier than competitors
This 9cm kitchen knife is great for cutting fruit and vegetable. It is well designed to handle the smaller cutting tasks. This can be bought alone or in a knife set with a chef’s knife.
This blade is made from one piece of stainless steel and offers a good edge with corrosion resistance. The Pro Paring Knife can be sharpened with ease and the all-metal design means it is easy to keep clean too. This is a great choice for a home cook and offers excellent value for money.
Although small, this paring knife weighs 180g which is more than the 11cm and 18cm options from Global.
RELATED: The Best Kitchen Knife Set
Furi vs Global Comparison Table
Brand | Furi | Global |
Founded | 1996 | 1985 |
Location | Australia | Japan |
Manufacturing | China | Japan |
Steel | Japanese Stainless Steel | CROMOVA 18 |
Carbon of Blade | Not listed | 0.8% |
Hardness Rating | Rockwell C52 (approx) | Rockwell C56 – 58 |
Stamped or Forged | Forged | Stamped |
Blade Angle | 13 degree | 12.5 – 15 degree |
Handle | One piece | Welded |
Handle Design | Seamless | Hollow, Weighted With Sand |
Product Lines | 1 | 4 |
Cost | $ | $$ |
Warranty | 25 year | Lifetime |
Things to keep in mind when choosing Kitchen knives
Material
Stainless Steel
A popular material for kitchen knives, stainless steel is less likely to rust or stain and requires very little maintenance. The downside is that they may not hold their edge as well as other materials so may require sharpening more often.
Carbon Steel
Carbon steel produces some of the sharpest knives, is able to hold its sharp edge well, and is also easy to sharpen. The downside is that these blades are more susceptible to staining, especially when used for cooking.
Ceramic
Ceramic knives are popular because they are strong, don’t rust, and are lightweight. However, ceramic is more brittle, and depending on the user’s knife skills and sharpening experience, ceramic blades may need to be sharpened by a professional.
Forged Vs Stamped
Forged knives are made from a piece of steel that is heated and then pounded into shape. This method creates a thicker, heavier blade and is considered higher quality. A forged knife usually has a bolster.
Stamped knives are made in a machine and the blade is cut from steel. This method creates a thinner and lighter knife that doesn’t usually have a bolster. These are usually less expensive.
Tang
The tang is the part of the blade that extends into the handle. You can get a range of tang types including full tang (when the blade extends the full length of the handle) and partial/ half tang.
FAQ
Yes, Furi knives are designed in Australia and made in China.
Furi knives are made of Japanese stainless steel but are Australian designed and manufactured in China.
Global knives are stamped rather than forged.
The frequency of sharpening depends on your use of the knives. Periodically sharpening of Global knives is recommended and Global suggests using a ceramic or diamond rod for this.