There’s such a great range of kitchen knives to choose from. Different brands have different focuses on what’s important.
Two brands that offer quite different knives are Messermeister and Global.
In this article, I’m going to tell you the differences between these two great brands. I’ll go in-depth into the details of each, talking about where they are made, what materials are used and the difference in price.
This article should provide all the information you need to select the right knife for your needs.
Global knives are lightweight and very slim, which makes them more suitable for those with smaller hands. Messermeister knives, like most German-style knives, are more bulky and ideal for rock chopping.
| My recommendation | Current price |
| Messermeister Oliva Elite 8-Inch | View on Amazon (opens new tab) |
| Global Classic 8-Inch | View on Amazon (opens new tab) |
Messermeister vs Global – Comparison Table
Here is my summary comparison table for each brand. This is mostly based on the Chef’s knife from their main range; the Messermeister Meridian Elite and the Global Classic (G Series) Chef’s knife.
For a more in-depth look at each category then check out the rest of the article below.
| Category | Messermeister | Global |
| Country of Manufacture | Germany | Japan |
| Steel type | X50CrMoV15 (1.4116) | Chromova18 |
| Rockwell hardness | HRC 57 | HRC 56-58 |
| Factory edge | 15 degrees (double bevel) | 15 degrees (double bevel) |
| Handle material | POM (thermoplastic) | Steel |
| Price range | $150 – $170 (Meridian Elite) | $150 – $170 (Classic/G Series) |
| Main benefit | Stylish design (especially in their premium collections) | Lightweight and slim |
| My recommendation | Messermeister 8-Inch Meridian Elite (view on Amazon) | Global 8-Inch Classic (view on Amazon) |
Messermeister vs Global – Where are they made
| Brand | Country of manufacture |
| Messermeister | Germany |
| Global | Japan |
Messermeister Knives are produced in the German city of Solingen, where they have been produced since their launch in 1985.
Messermeister is German for Knife (Messer) Maser (Meister), they have always had a focus on innovative design whilst still being influenced by German classics.
Bernd Dressler, the founder of Messermeister was the first western knife maker to introduce a bolsterless heel to his knife range, a trend that is found throughout western knives today.
Global knives are manufactured in the city of Niigata, on the North-Western coast of Japan.
Niigata is where the Yoshikin metal manufacturing company has been based since 1954, so they have a good span of heritage making Japanese steels.
Both of these brands produce their knives in the homeland of their heritage, an added bonus for anyone looking for a genuine German or Japanese knife.
Messermeister vs Global – What steel do they use
Knowing which steel a knife is made of is one of the most important things to understand when buying a knife.
The steel used will give you a very good indication of what the manufacturer has focused on as the most important aspect of the knife, such as durability or sharpness.
| Brand | Steel type | Rockwell hardness |
| Messermeister Meridian Elite | X50CrMoV15 (1.4116) | HRC 57 |
| Global | Chromova18 | HRC 56 – 58 |
Messermeister uses X50CrMoV15. This is a German steel that is used for the majority of Messermeister knives.
It’s popular steel amongst producers of quality western-style knives. That’s because it has a particular focus on durability, whilst retaining enough strength for a sharp edge.
The main elements of interest within X50CrMoV15’s composition are Carbon, Vanadium and Chromium.
The Carbon content is 0.55%. That’s not particularly high when comparing it with other quality knives; however, it’s high enough to provide sufficient strength in the blade for a 15 – 20 degree angle on each side, which is standard for western knives.
The big benefit of not having a very high Carbon content is that higher Carbon steels are usually more brittle, therefore the 0.55% content keeps the blade durable.
That’s the same with the strong Vanadium of 0.4%, Vanadium improves the resistance to wear of the steel also adding to its durability.
The Chromium content is 15% is what the 15 in X50CrMoV15 represents. Chromium is vital for the durability of steel as it’s what makes stainless steel resistant to rust.
Steel need only be 10.5% to be considered stainless, so a 15% content is high and makes this a quality stainless steel, very unlikely to rust unless extremely mistreated by the owner.
Global knives are made from their own specially formulated steel, Chromova18.
You’ll only find Chromova18 in Global knives and it’s a very unique steel. To understand why let’s look at some of its Chromium content.
The 18 in Chromova18, represents the steel’s Chromium content, which is 18%. That is a huge level of Chromium by any standard and it’s an amount you’ll rarely see in another knife.
That means that Global knives are especially resistant to rust, making them particularly durable. That’s really the theme of Global knives, they are Japanese knives but they have a focus on durability.
The Carbon content is quite high at 0.75 – 1.05%. Usually, that would lead to a very hard knife, which could hold a super-sharp Japanese style edge, but that’s not the case with Global.
The rather unique composition of Chromova18 actually results in a rather soft steel, with a Rockwell hardness between 56-58 HRC.
I don’t regard this as a bad thing though, it plays directly to the strengths that the brand wants from their knives; durability over sharpness.
A softer steel is less likely to chip and snap, and it’s easier to sharpen (although you would need to sharpen it more often).
Combine that with the 18% Chromium content and this is a knife that will last a very long time.
Both of the steels used for Messermeister and Global knives are good quality, but whereas the X50CrMoV15 steel used by Messermeister can be found in many other brands of knives, Global’s Chromova18 is unique to the brand and is what makes Global knives particularly special.
Messermeister vs Global – How sharp are they
Once again I’m going to focus on the most popular knives from each brand for this comparison.
You will experience an almost identical sharpness between both Messermeister and Global knives over time. Global knives will begin a little sharper due to the straighter bevel, but overall the difference is minimal.
| Brand | Factory edge | Rockwell hardness |
| Messermeister Meridian Elite | 15 degrees (double bevel) | HRC 57 |
| Global | 15 degrees (double bevel with straighter edge) | HRC 56-58 |
Messermeister use a standard bevel for their edge, whereas Global uses the more Japanese straight bevel. Effectively the edge angle on a Global will continue up the blade for some way, whereas the cutting angle on the Messermeister is far more focused nearer the edge.
With that being said, the two steels are ultimately going to be extremely similar and will perform almost exactly the same for sharpness over time.
Global knives use a different style of bevel for their knives, which should make them sharper straight out of the factory. To keep a razor sharp edge both the Messermeister and Global will need to be sharpened relatively often as neither steel is that hard.
As a result, there isn’t much to choose between the two when measuring sharpness. They will both certainly be sharp enough, but neither of them offers the super sharp edge of high-Carbon Japanese knives as they both focus more on durability.
Messermeister vs Global – What are the handles made from
The material used for handles is a vital and often overlooked feature of any knife.
A quality handle is often the sign of a quality overall knife. Handles need to be made from a durable material that can withstand all the heat and moisture fluctuations knives can experience in the kitchen.
Here we’ll focus on the Messermeister Meridian Elite range and Global knives as a whole since all Global knives use the same handle method.
| Brand | Handle material |
| Messermeister Meridian Elite | POM (thermoplastic) – Although other Messermeister ranges use stunning timber for the handle |
| Global | Chromova18 steel |
Messermeister use a thermoplastic material called POM (Polyoxymethylene) for their Meridian Elite knife handles.
Although, it is worth mentioning that Messermeister use some very attractive timbers for their other ranges such as Royale Elite (American Walnut) and Oliva Elite (Olive Wood) that are exquisitely beautiful.
But for now, let’s focus on POM as that is used by their main range. Materials like these are ideal for knife handles due to their extreme durability.
POM is specifically designed for high stiffness and stability, and being a thermoplastic means it’s also extremely resistant to temperature and moisture changes.
It’s a fantastic material to use for knife handles, that will undergo all sorts of pressures and it makes sense to use this material for your main range, which is usually your more practical range.
However, as I’ve mentioned above, Messermeister in particular has some stunning handles in their other collections. I particularly like the Olive Wood handle used in their Oliva Elite collection.
So, although their main range uses the same handle material, I’d say the exquisite timber used by Messermeister.
I’ll link to the Messermeister Oliva Elite Chef’s knife at the bottom of this article, it’s well worth a look.
Global knives use their own steel, Chromova18 to create the handle, and form the whole knife out of a seemingly single piece of steel.
Technically the knife isn’t made from one piece of steel. The blade is made in one piece. The handle is made from a further two pieces, the handle is hollow and filled with sand in order to offer the perfect counterbalance weight to the blade.
All the pieces are then welded together to form a seamless knife, with the blade and handle becoming one.
It’s a fantastic design and results in the most durable handle you’ll find in any knife, it’s basically impossible to damage this handle unless you were pretty determined to.
As the stainless steel on its own would be difficult to grip, Global handles are always dimpled to provide extra friction. It’s a technique that works well and for home use, providing the cook with plenty of control over the knife.
Messermeister vs Global – How much do they cost
Both these brands have wide ranges of knives all at differing price ranges.
To allow for a fairer comparison I’ve categorized three of their major ranges that represent their highest and lowest cost knives.
I’ve tried to compare similar knives, sticking to 8 Inch Chef’s knives or the closest equivalent they have in the range.
In brackets next to the general price range you’ll see the name of the range.
These prices are rough estimates. Prices do change over time but this is intended as a rough guide.
| Brand range | Messermeister | Global |
| Premium | $170 – $190 (Oliva Elite) | $200 – $250 (SAI) |
| Standard | $150 – $170 (Meridian Elite) | $150 – $170 (Classic/G Series) |
| Value | $35 – $45 (Four Seasons) | No value range |
It’s pretty clear that both Messermeister and Global offer a quite similar range of prices for their knives, with Global knives being slightly more expensive and not having a value range.
However, the difference isn’t all that large and represents the fact that these are both top quality knife brands.
So I would say that which one you pick should be strongly based on your budget, it should be based on what the differences are and what’s more important to your needs.
Let’s look at that next.
Messermeister vs Global – What is the difference
Now that we have looked at the design, materials, background and price of these brands we can fully understand the difference, and you should be able to make an informed decision on which knife is correct for you.
One difference between Messermeister and Global knives is the size and weight of the designs. Messermeister knives are slightly more robust and weighty, Global knives are more slim and very lightweight. Messermeister knives are also better designed for rock chopping when preparing food.
| Brand | Main benefits |
| Messermeister | Classic robust western design |
| Global | Lightweight and slim |
Both these knives have been built for durability, and they are both very successful in achieving that goal.
They will both perform quite similarly in terms of their sharpness and are quite similar in price.
However; the big difference is that Messermeister knives are a little bulkier, with more weight and a thicker blade. Many people prefer this because the knife is still well balanced and comfortable, but some people, especially if they have smaller hands, prefer the very lightweight Global.
Global knives are much more lightweight and slim. There is no bolster at all and the handle is hollow.
As a result, Global knives are very suitable for those with smaller hands. That’s especially useful for family kitchens, where many different people might be using the knife.
Both these brands are top quality, and Global knives are very unique, but ultimately I think the biggest difference between the two comes down to their weight, size and style.
Messermeister vs Global – Which is better for you
These are both brilliant knives and they are amongst the most durable knives you can find. There is no clear winner, it’s really down to which one suits your needs the best.
Messermeister knives suit bigger people, with larger hands. Global knives suit those with smaller hands, as is often the case with Japanese-influenced knives.
That’s not to say Messermeister knives are only appropriate for giants! They are a great knife and very comfortable, the vast majority of cooks will find them very comfortable to use.
But they are a little more bulky, and this article is here to tell you the main differences afterall!
Global knives are more specifically designed to be slim and lightweight in a way that is matched by very few other knife brands.
I wouldn’t say one of these brands is better than the other, it’s just about which kind of knife you personally prefer and will find more comfortable.
My Messermeister Recommendation
View the 8-Inch Messermeister Oliva Elite on Amazon (opens new tab)
For my Messermeister recommendation I’ve gone with one from their premium collection, especially the Oliva Elite collection.
This knife is stunning. I think it’s the most attractive western style Chef’s knife available.
The Olive Wood handle gives it such a beautiful finish that it really stands out from other knives.
Olive wood won’t be quite as durable as other thermoplastic handles, so you will have to avoid doing things like soaking it in the kitchen sink, because that’s clearly going to warp the wood over time.
But as timber goes, Olive wood is still a good material for knife handles, it’s hard and strong so it will be durable, it’s just hard to match the artificially created durability of substances like POM with natural materials.
It’s a great knife, so if you want to add a bit of beauty to your kitchen then there are few better choices than this Messermeister Oliva Elite.
My Global Recommendation
View the 8-Inch Global Classic on Amazon (opens new tab)
The Global Classic 8-Inch is one of the most durable knives you can find.
It’s made from a 18% Chromium stainless steel that is pretty much un-matched in the knife world.
But its biggest selling point is its size and weight. Global knives are very light and because they are entirely steel, the handle is actually hollow, with just some sand to counterbalance the blade.
It has no bolster and is slimmer than most knives, which makes it perfect for those who want a lighter, easier to control knife and is especially suited for people with smaller hands.
It’s a great knife, and one of a kind.
