Well-balanced with a full-tang and traditional design.
Modern and lightweight with a stainless steel handle.
Global and Wusthof both produce some of the best kitchen knives in the world.
These two brands have excellent reputations for producing sharp, long-lasting knives that look and feel great. Whether you need a single paring knife or a full set of knives Global and Wusthof both offer a full range of options.
Choosing between these two premium brands can be a challenge. If you’re not sure which to invest in, this direct comparison will help identify the key differences that may sway your decision.
A Bit About the Brands
Global is a Japanese company that began making knives in 1985. They produce a range of knives suitable for use by professionals and home cooks. Global knives offer excellent value for money and are known for being premium quality and versatile.
Wusthof is a family-owned German company that has been producing high-end knives for over two centuries. These knives are well-designed, well-balanced and durable.
Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between these two knife makers.
Global Vs Wusthof Comparison Table
| Brand | Global | Wusthof |
| Founded | 1985 | 1814 |
| Location | Japan | Germany |
| Manufacturing | Japan | Germany |
| Steel | CROMOVA 18 | X50 Cr MoV 15 |
| Carbon of Blade | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Hardness Rating | Rockwell C56 – 58 | Rockwell C58 |
| Stamped or Forged | Stamped | Offer both types |
| Blade Angle | 12.5 – 15 degree | 14 degree |
| Handle | Welded | Full Tang |
| Handle Design | Hollow, Weighted With Sand | Riveted |
| Product Lines | 4 | 7 |
| Cost | $$ | $$$ |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Key similarities
Comfort
Both brands produce high-quality knives with comfortable handles. They are easy to manoeuvre and the handles of each one feels good in your hand.
Global handles are straighter, smaller and lighter than Wusthof’s handles but both offer easy grip and comfort.
Wusthof handles have indents on them and tend to provide a better grip when wet.
Durability
The knives from both brands are high-end and are made to withstand heavy day to day use.
They stay sharp and are not easily damaged. This makes each one a great knife for kitchen use at home or in professional settings.
So whether you are a chef or a home cook, Global and Wusthof both produce knives you can rely on.
They are each built to last and provide a balance between edge retention and durability.
Optimal Hardness
While there is a slight difference between the blade hardness of the two brands (Wusthof 58 Rockwell Hardness vs Global 56-58 Rockwell Hardness), they are both within the optimal range of hardness for kitchen knives.
A knife that is too hard becomes brittle and easier to break while a knife that is too soft will need regular sharpening.
These knives offer optimal hardness, are corrosion-resistant and are designed to last.
Cleaning & Care
Knives from both brands should be hand washed as the dishwasher can damage them.
Wusthof says their knives are dishwasher safe but recommend you wash them by hand and dry them immediately.
The care and maintenance is the same whether you have a Wusthof or Global knife.
It’s also best to correctly store the knives to help keep them in the best condition for longer too, for example, use a knife block to store a kitchen knife set.
Some sets can be bought with a knife block or storage solution included.
Warranty
When comparing Wusthof vs Global knives the one thing you will not need to compromise on is the warranty.
Both of these brands offer a lifetime warranty on their knives.
So whether you are looking for a brand new set or just a new chef’s knife you can rest assured that whatever you choose will be covered by a warranty.
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Key differences
Design
The design of knives from these two knife makers is one of the clear differences between them.
Global knives are designed to be sleek, lightweight and modern. They have a stainless steel blade and a stainless steel handle that is welded together and looks as though they could be made from one piece of steel.
Wusthof knives have a more western style, they are thick and the steel extends all the way from the blade to the end of the handle.
The handle itself is synthetic or wooden and the knife has a bolster in between that adds balance and prevents your hand from slipping.
These knives have more weight to them and feel more substantial when you hold one in your hand.
Material
Each Global knife is made with Cromova 18 which is a tough stainless steel made from 18% chromium.
The higher chromium content of Global’s knives makes them marginally softer and slightly more resistant to stains.
Wusthof produces knives use German Stainless Steel (X50 Cr MoV 15). Both of these materials are hard and high quality.
Full Tang
Wusthof blades are full tang which means the steel of the blade extends through the length of the handle.
Being full tang increases the weight and strength of the knife. Rather than being full tang, Global welds the blade and handle together.
This means they are lighter but they are not as strong.
However, the welding is such high quality that the Global knives often look like they are made entirely from one piece of material on first glance.
Knife Edge Grind
Global knives have a straight edge while the Wusthof knives have a slight bevel.
A bevelled knife is common in Europe and tends to produce less friction which makes it efficient and practical when cutting items such as fish and meat.
The Global knives generally have a longer, thinner blade and the manufacturer says the straight edge produces a sharper knife that stays sharper for longer.
Sharpening
Wusthof knives have a 14-degree sharpened edge. Global SAI and NI range knives have a 12.5-degree sharpened edge and other Global lines are sharpened at a 15-degree angle.
This is only a small difference in the sharpening angle and both brands offer extremely sharp effective knives.
Weight
Global knives are lighter than Wusthof knives. An 8-inch chef knife weighs 8 ounces (around 226g) from Wusthof or 5.5 ounces (around 156g) from Global.
Global uses sand-filled steel handles instead of wood to make them lighter and their knives are not full tang which also impacts their overall weight.
Origin
Wusthof knives are manufactured in Germany and have been since 1814. Global knives are designed and manufacured in Japan.
Price
The prices of these knives vary depending on the knife or knife set you choose and where you buy it from.
Overall, Wusthof knives will usually cost you more. At the time of writing, the RRP for a Classic 3 piece knife set from Global is $469 while a Wusthof Classic 3 piece set is $699.
While the price difference may not always be as stark as this example, you can expect Wusthof to cost slightly more.
Making your selection
Well-balanced with a full-tang and traditional design.
Modern and lightweight with a stainless steel handle.
There are many similarities between Wusthof and Global. They both produce sharp, durable knives from premium quality materials, they both offer lifetime warranties and they both make blades with optimal hardness levels.
There are lots to love about them and whichever one you choose you’ll be getting one of the best knives available. The biggest difference between these premium knife brands is their style.
Global knives are designed to be sleek and modern. They are lighter which makes cutting easier and ensures you have comfort and full control while slicing and chopping.
Global uses a stainless steel handle which helps to knives look unique and modern, the handle is also slightly smaller than that of Wusthof knives.
Thanks to the lighter weight, Global knives tend to be better suited to being used for long periods of time without causing fatigue.
Wusthof, on the other hand, uses a more traditional European design which produces a heavier but well-balanced knife.
These knives have a full-tang construction so there’s no risk of the knife breaking apart under pressure.
They have a bolster and the handles are larger. Wusthof is a German brand that has been making knife sets for over 200 years so you know will be buying from a brand that has truly stood the test of time.
Both Wusthof and Global offer extensive knife ranges so whether you need a chef’s knife, paring knife or something larger or sharper they both have all the products you may need for your kitchen.
These are knives for chefs and for home use; they are reliable, sharp and get the job done with style.
If the design and weight of the knife haven’t impacted your decision, the price might.
A Wusthof knife costs more so if you are looking for a more affordable option, go with Global.