Proprietary vs Traditional Steel
Global uses their proprietary Cromova 18 steel, while Zwilling employs the industry-standard X50CrMoV15 with Friodur ice-hardening. Both claim superior corrosion resistance and edge retention. Here's how they compare.
Steel Composition
- Cromova 18: High carbon with 18% chromium, molybdenum, vanadium. Hardness: 56-58 HRC.
- X50CrMoV15 (Friodur): 0.5% carbon, 15% chromium, 0.15% vanadium. Hardness: 57-58 HRC after cryogenic treatment.
Performance
Corrosion Resistance
Cromova 18's higher chromium (18%) gives it a slight edge in laboratory corrosion testing. In practical kitchen use, both resist rust equally well with proper care.
Edge Retention
Zwilling's Friodur process reduces retained austenite, improving edge retention slightly over un-cryo-treated steel. Global's Cromova 18, without special treatment, dulls marginally faster. The difference is small but measurable in sustained testing.
Sharpening
Both sharpen similarly on quality stones. Cromova 18 feels slightly "gummier" on stones due to its higher chromium content.
Both are excellent stainless steels. Zwilling's Friodur earns a small edge retention advantage due to cryogenic treatment. Global's Cromova 18 wins on lab corrosion resistance but the practical difference is negligible. Choose based on knife design preference — the steel is not a deciding factor between these brands.