Global Knives™ and their major hidden fault revealed
GLOBAL™ knives are instantly recognisable and enormously popular. But there is one problem we encounter on a daily basis when servicing them at Blade & Butler: pit corrosion.
Contrary to the impression their seamless appearance can give,GLOBAL™ knives are not simply one solid piece of steel from blade to handle. The hollow handle ( filled with sand to add weight ) is separately constructed and welded to the CROMOVA 18 blade during manufacture.
In the 40 plus years we have been servicing Global knives since their introduction in to the UK, our experience is that corrosion can frequently appear around this weld join as well as across the blade itself.
What Does Pit Rust Look Like?
Pit corrosion is very different from ordinary surface rust.
Normal rust usually appears as an orange or reddish-brown staining on the surface and can often be successfully removed during reconditioning.
Pit rust looks more like tiny blackheads or black pimples in the steel.
The important difference is that the corrosion has penetrated intothe metal. Once sufficiently deep, polishing the surface cannot simply make the pits disappear without removing an unacceptable amount of surrounding steel which can compromise the structural integrity of the blade.
Never Put a GLOBAL™ Knife in the Dishwasher
GLOBAL™ knives have started to specifically warn against dishwashers though they have known of this issue for decades. It is interesting that they have not chosen to move to alternative steels as this issue cannot be found in other high end brands.
Dishwasher salts and detergents can attack the protective chromium-oxide in stainless steel, resulting in this microscopic corrosion and pitting.
Our advice goes one step further: wash your GLOBAL™ knives by hand and dry them immediately.
Don't leave them wet or allow them to air-dry overnight. Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant—not corrosion-proof.
Can We Restore Them?
Absolutely.
At Blade & Butler we regularly receive heavily used GLOBAL™ knives and can sharpen, polish, repair and recondition them back to fantastic condition.( see below ) But we cannot completely remove pit rusting.
Related links: Global knife restoration and sharpening
Manufacturers Don't Always Get It Right
Knife Polishing & Rust Removal
