A thousand years ago in Japan, the high art of sword forging was developed to equip the dreaded Samurai warriors with strong and sharp blades. Today, Global still produces high quality blades according to this ancient tradition. Like the Samurai swords in the past, every knife is carefully weighted to create a perfect balance in the hand. The hygienically safe, smooth, and seamless design removes food and dirt. The Global knives are a distinctive tool - just like the Samurai swords of old - for any professional or amateur cook.
It is unusual for a product range to remain popular and fashionable for so many years without any substantial changes in design. Although we are proud of this success and the timelessness of our design, we believe now is the time to build on our success through the introduction of a modern series. We are very proud of our latest creation.
GLOBAL SAI
Global launches its first new knives in thirty years.
The Global Sai knives follow the same tradition as our Global Classic knives and are made by skilled Japanese craftsmen of the Yoshikin factory. All of their experience in manufacturing hollow stainless steel grips and modern blade technology is applied to create a beautiful knife.
Komin Yamada introduces the new design; with an ergonomic grip, three layers of steel, individually hammered blade, and mirror polished edge. Please welcome a new Global knife to a new global world.
In order to look forward, we must first look in the rearview mirror. In 1983, many people wrote about Komin Yamada’s design of the first Global knife. The knife was immediately praised for its innovative design. Japanese craftsmanship, quality, and precision were combined with an infallible and contemporary sense of design that in itself became a trademark. The Global knife became - and still is - a true classic in terms of production and design and has found its way into almost every food lover’s home around the world.
However, things have changed since 1983. We live in a different world now. When Komin Yamada - now thirty years later - was asked to design a new set of knives, his starting point was the world of today and the modern zeitgeist.
Knife design in a global context
- The design should reflect the context in which the blade is used. “Global is an international brand and the new Global Sai must work in a global context,” says Komin Yamada.
Patience is a Japanese virtue. However, there are six other virtues. Komin took inspiration from these virtues in designing the new knives.
- “I see a growing awareness among ordinary people - a love for the natural world, materials, and for each other. A return to more human values and virtues, if you will.” The seven dots on the handle are part of my commentary on that topic. The traditional Japanese bushido (code of honor) has seven virtues. I believe we are heading in that direction.
The fact that Komin Yamada flirts with the seven virtues of the Samurai is of course not incidental. Global is firmly rooted in the thousand year old tradition of sword craftsmanship.
Individualism without selfishness
The overall design of the blade is different from that of its predecessor. The new blade is softer, rounder, and has a more defined design. It is organic and alive, something which is best reflected in the most striking feature of the knife: it’s hammered blade. Of course, each blade is hammered separately. This gives each knife a unique personality.
- An exclusive characteristic that can not been seen in any other blade in the series.
- This is something that is very much of this time, says Komin Yamada. More than ever, we want to express ourselves and our personality. We want to share our sphere of influence and bring it to a higher level. Individualism without selfishness.
Which brings us to the name.
Sai - a colorful personality
Yoshikin, the Japanese manufacturer of metal products and tableware for Global, has set itself the goal of making the best use of the potential of beauty and color, inherent to the material of all of its product. Along with Komin Yamada and his comprehensive design principles, they have coined the name ‘Sai’ as an addition to the name Global.
‘Sai’ means colorful, striking, something that can be said of a person or personality.
- I see Global Sai as a colorful personality, says Komin Yamada. A lively and playful contrast to conformity. A charismatic cosmopolitan.
The red, stylized Kanji character on the blade of the knife is the character for Sai.
Design goes hand in hand with function – and vice versa
With all respect to design, Komin Yamada will never lose sight of the main goal – function – while designing a knife. Anything else would be unthinkable. Function and design are inseparable according to Komin Yamada.
“Both function and design must come naturally and not stand in the way of each other,” he says. “They are intertwined, two sides of the same coin, irrevocably inseparable.”
This brings us back to the hammered surface of the blade. Not only is it a feast for the eyes for design lovers, the hammered blade – with its small holes – creates pockets of air between the food to be chopped. This allows the food to slide along the blade and let go of the knife much faster. The time spent in the kitchen becomes a lot easier and more enjoyable.
Another new feature is the ergonomic thumb grip on the handle. The thumb rests between the handle and the blade, allowing a carefree and relaxed, but firm, grip. The handle is a considerably longer than traditional Global knives, making it possible to move the knife with any conceivable grip. And just like the handle of the classic Global knife, the Global Sai is also perfectly balanced using sea sand. A prerequisite for the many hours spent in the kitchen.
A brand new type of steel and a hand-polished, mirror-cut.
Also the material used in the knife and the cutting edge itself have been altered. In contrast to the classic Global knife, the Global Sai is a three-layered steel knife. The two outer layers of steel in the blade are made of a softer alloy steel: SUS 410. The inner layer is an alloy patented by Yoshikin: CROMOVA 18, or Global’s proprietary alloy with 18% chromium and a secret percentage of molybdenum and vanadium. The handle is made of a 18/8 steel alloy. Both - SUS 410 and 18/8 - help to ensure that the Gobal Sai knives are more resistant to rust and corrosion and are much less susceptible to breaking. The slightly softer outer layers of the blade are also relatively easy to sharpen.
The CROMOVA 18, as used in the Global Sai series, is hardened to 58-59 Rockwell, even harder than the traditional Global knives (56-58 Rockwell). As a result, the narrow mirror-polished edge is extremely sharp and will remain so for a long time.
A new classic?
Whether the Sai series will be just as success as its predecessor remains to be seen. In any case, the knives meet all the necessary conditions to cause a new wave of globalization.
One thing is certain: Yoshikin and Komin Yamada have designed a high quality kitchen knife that is adapted to modern times and fits perfectly in the hand.
The new Global Sai in seven points:
An immaculate kitchen utensil in which form, ergonomics, and precise craftsmanship are combined to create a minute, colorful, and personal whole.
· New total design
· Individually hammered blade
· Hand polished
· Ergonomic and functional design
· Three layers of steel - CROMOVA 18 2 x SUS 410 steel
· Smoothly polished cutting edge
· Stronger welded joints, less chance of breaking
Bushido - Way of the warrior
Komin Yamada’s flirtation with the honor code of the Samurai and moral principles inspired by Conficianism and Buddhism.
· Gi - Morality
· Yuki - Courage
· Jin - Goodness
· Rei - Respect
· Makoto - Honesty
· Meiyo - Honor
· Chugi - Loyalty
