Global’s vegetable chopper is inspired by traditional Japanese Usaba knives, with a large flat blade which lets you chop straight through the whole vegetable, from sweet squash to earthy beetroot. The long, rectangular-shaped blade has a slight knife point, and the design is popular amongst professional chefs in Tokyo. The strong blade encourages you to chop straight up and down rather than pushing and pulling the knife in a horizontal motion. This leaves a clean cut on every vegetable. The Rockwell scale measures the hardness of steel, and this Global knife measures between 56 and 58. This rates on the higher end which means the blade is stronger, and is less likely to chip or become damaged - perfect for frequent use. With a tight 15 degree angle blade, this knife feels much smoother to use. Please note, this knife is hand wash only. Global knives have been hand-crafted in Japan for over 30 years following Japanese sword-making traditions. Global kitchen knives were first designed in 1985 by Komin Yamada. His aim was to create a series of knives using the best raw materials available, which were easy to handle yet durable, and could be used by both chefs and home cooks alike. The classic knives collection have Global’s famous Cromova18 blades and are sharpened to a 15 degree angle to provide a smoother feel when chopping. Each knife has a weighted hollow handle for ease of holding.