There’s a wide range of brilliant kitchen knives out there.
That’s great for knife buffs like me, but for the normal customer it can be a little confusing.
Fear not, I’m going to guide you through the differences between two brilliant brands that people are often comparing, ZWILLING JA Henckels 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. ZWILLING JA Henckels knives, like most German-style knives, are more bulky and are more suited to larger handed cooks.
| My recommendation | Current price |
| ZWILLING Professional “S” Chef’s Knife | View on Amazon (opens new tab) |
| Global Classic 8-Inch | View on Amazon (opens new tab) |
ZWILLING JA Henckels 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 ZWILLING Professional “S” 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 | ZWILLING JA Henckels (Pro S) | Global |
| Country of Manufacture | Germany | Japan |
| Steel type | X50CrMoV15 | 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 | $140 – $160 (Pro S) | $150 – $170 (Classic/G Series) |
| Main benefit | Classic, robust western design | Lightweight and slim |
| My recommendation | Zwilling 8-Inch Professional S (view on Amazon) | Global 8-Inch Classic (view on Amazon) |
ZWILLING JA Henckels vs Global – Where are they made
| Brand | Country of manufacture |
| ZWILLING JA Henckels | Germany |
| Global | Japan |
ZWILLING JA Henckels knives are produced in the German city of Solingen, where they have been produced since their launch in 1731.
ZWILLING JA Henckels are not to be confused with knives labeled just ‘JA Henckels’. ZWILLING knives are distinctly marked with the logo of the two stick-like people.
JA Henckels knives, without the ZWILLING mark are not made in Germany.
ZWILLING is a huge group, which owns various knife brands. Generally, ZWILLING knives are a mark of quality.
The most well-known brand within the ZWILLING group is JA Henckels, but ZWILLING also owns other more surprising brands like Kramer and Miyabi which are both made in Japan.
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.
ZWILLING JA Henckels 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 |
| ZWILLING JA Henckels | X50CrMoV15 | HRC 57 |
| Global | Chromova18 | HRC 56 – 58 |
The ZWILLING Professional “S” range uses X50CrMoV15. This is a German steel that is used for the majority of ZWILLING JA Henckels 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 ZWILLING JA Henckels and Global knives are good quality, but whereas the X50CrMoV15 steel used by ZWILLING JA Henckels 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.
ZWILLING JA Henckels vs Global – How sharp are they
Once again I’m going to focus on the most popular knives from each brand for this comparison.
Global knives are a little sharper than ZWILLING JA Henckels due to the straighter bevel of the cutting edge. They use steel of very similar hardness so will retain their edges for a similar length of time.
| Brand | Factory edge | Rockwell hardness |
| ZWILLING Professional “S” | 15 degrees (double bevel) | HRC 57 |
| Global | 15 degrees (double bevel with straighter edge) | HRC 56-58 |
ZWILLING JA Henckels 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 ZWILLING JA Henckels is very close to the cutting edge.
Global knives use a different style of bevel for their knives, which should make them sharper straight out of the factory.
The steel used for both knives is of very similar hardness, so they will be quite equal in edge retention.
As a result, there isn’t a huge amount 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.
Overall though, the Global has a slightly sharper edge than ZWILLING JA Henckels.
ZWILLING JA Henckels 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 ZWILLING Professional “S” range and Global knives as a whole since all Global knives use the same handle method.
| Brand | Handle material |
| ZWILLING Professional “S” | POM (thermoplastic) |
| Global | Chromova18 steel |
ZWILLING JA Henckels use a thermoplastic material called POM (Polyoxymethylene) for their knife handles.
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.
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.
POM is a very durable material and is ideal for the Classic style ZWILLING JA Henckels aim for. Global handles are near indestructible and contribute drastically to the lightweight design of Global knives due to the hollowed handle.
Both are fantastic options, you won’t be able to damage a Global handle in normal use, and it’ll be pretty hard to damage a ZWILLING JA Henckels handle too.
ZWILLING JA Henckels 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 | ZWILLING JA Henckels | Global |
| Premium | $180 – $200 (Pro) | $200 – $250 (SAI) |
| Standard | $140 – $160 (Professional S) | $150 – $170 (Classic/G Series) |
| Value | $80 – $100 (Twin Signature) | No value range (although often discounted) |
The first thing to know is that Global doesn’t really have a ‘Value range’, their Classic range is about as low as they offer price-wise.
Overall both ZWILLING JA Henckels and Global are priced quite similarly and so I don’t think the price difference is enough to make a distinction between these two brands.
There is one other notable difference that might help you choose which is best for you, so let’s look at that next.
ZWILLING JA Henckels 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.
The main difference between ZWILLING JA Henckels and Global knives is the size and weight of the designs. ZWILLING JA Henckels knives are more robust and weighty, Global knives are more slim and very lightweight.
| Brand | Main benefits |
| ZWILLING JA Henckels | 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 ZWILLING JA Henckels knives are much more bulky, with more weight and a thicker blade. Many people prefer this because the knife is still well balanced and comfortable, but it’s more appropriate for those with larger hands.
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 and size.
ZWILLING JA Henckels 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.
ZWILLING JA Henckels 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 ZWILLING JA Henckels knives are only appropriate for giants! They are a great knife and very comfortable, and their 6-inch variations are well suited for smaller hands.
But they are bulkier, and 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 ZWILLING JA Henckels Recommendation
View the 8-Inch ZWILLING JA Henckels Pro S on Amazon (opens new tab)
You can’t really go wrong with the ZWILLING JA Henckels Professional S.
The steel is ultra-durable, ideal for busy kitchens and it’s very unlikely to rust or chip.
It uses POM thermoplastic for the handle, so there’s next to no chance of it distorting under the general moisture and temperature fluctuations you get in the kitchen.
It’s a great knife and one of the best examples of a quality western chef’s knife you’ll find.
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.
