diff --git a/src/server/index.ts b/src/server/index.ts
index c601229..6609b59 100644
--- a/src/server/index.ts
+++ b/src/server/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { requireAuth } from "./middleware/auth.ts";
 import { authRoutes } from "./routes/auth.ts";
 import { categoryRoutes } from "./routes/categories.ts";
 import { imageRoutes } from "./routes/images.ts";
+import { globalItemRoutes } from "./routes/global-items.ts";
 import { itemRoutes } from "./routes/items.ts";
 import { oauthRoutes, wellKnownRoute } from "./routes/oauth.ts";
 import { settingsRoutes } from "./routes/settings.ts";
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ app.route("/api/images", imageRoutes);
 app.route("/api/settings", settingsRoutes);
 app.route("/api/threads", threadRoutes);
 app.route("/api/setups", setupRoutes);
+app.route("/api/global-items", globalItemRoutes);
 
 // MCP server (conditionally mounted)
 if (process.env.GEARBOX_MCP !== "false") {
diff --git a/src/server/routes/global-items.ts b/src/server/routes/global-items.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cddd080
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/server/routes/global-items.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import { Hono } from "hono";
+import { parseId } from "../lib/params.ts";
+import {
+	getGlobalItemWithOwnerCount,
+	searchGlobalItems,
+} from "../services/global-item.service.ts";
+
+type Env = { Variables: { db?: any } };
+
+const app = new Hono<Env>();
+
+app.get("/", (c) => {
+	const db = c.get("db");
+	const q = c.req.query("q");
+	const items = searchGlobalItems(db, q || undefined);
+	return c.json(items);
+});
+
+app.get("/:id", (c) => {
+	const db = c.get("db");
+	const id = parseId(c.req.param("id"));
+	if (!id) return c.json({ error: "Invalid global item ID" }, 400);
+
+	const item = getGlobalItemWithOwnerCount(db, id);
+	if (!item) return c.json({ error: "Global item not found" }, 404);
+
+	return c.json(item);
+});
+
+export { app as globalItemRoutes };
diff --git a/src/server/routes/items.ts b/src/server/routes/items.ts
index 2ba4325..81f6913 100644
--- a/src/server/routes/items.ts
+++ b/src/server/routes/items.ts
@@ -2,9 +2,17 @@ import { unlink } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 import { zValidator } from "@hono/zod-validator";
 import { Hono } from "hono";
-import { createItemSchema, updateItemSchema } from "../../shared/schemas.ts";
+import {
+	createItemSchema,
+	linkItemSchema,
+	updateItemSchema,
+} from "../../shared/schemas.ts";
 import { parseId } from "../lib/params.ts";
 import { exportItemsCsv, importItemsCsv } from "../services/csv.service.ts";
+import {
+	linkItemToGlobal,
+	unlinkItemFromGlobal,
+} from "../services/global-item.service.ts";
 import {
 	createItem,
 	deleteItem,
@@ -103,4 +111,32 @@ app.delete("/:id", async (c) => {
 	return c.json({ success: true });
 });
 
+app.post("/:id/link", zValidator("json", linkItemSchema), (c) => {
+	const db = c.get("db");
+	const id = parseId(c.req.param("id"));
+	if (!id) return c.json({ error: "Invalid item ID" }, 400);
+
+	const item = getItemById(db, id);
+	if (!item) return c.json({ error: "Item not found" }, 404);
+
+	try {
+		const link = linkItemToGlobal(db, id, c.req.valid("json").globalItemId);
+		return c.json(link, 201);
+	} catch {
+		return c.json({ error: "Item already linked to a global item" }, 409);
+	}
+});
+
+app.delete("/:id/link", (c) => {
+	const db = c.get("db");
+	const id = parseId(c.req.param("id"));
+	if (!id) return c.json({ error: "Invalid item ID" }, 400);
+
+	const item = getItemById(db, id);
+	if (!item) return c.json({ error: "Item not found" }, 404);
+
+	unlinkItemFromGlobal(db, id);
+	return c.json({ success: true });
+});
+
 export { app as itemRoutes };
diff --git a/tests/routes/global-items.test.ts b/tests/routes/global-items.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..714c1b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/routes/global-items.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "bun:test";
+import { Hono } from "hono";
+import { globalItems, itemGlobalLinks, items } from "../../src/db/schema.ts";
+import { globalItemRoutes } from "../../src/server/routes/global-items.ts";
+import { itemRoutes } from "../../src/server/routes/items.ts";
+import { createTestDb } from "../helpers/db.ts";
+
+type TestDb = ReturnType<typeof createTestDb>;
+
+function createTestApp() {
+	const db = createTestDb();
+	const app = new Hono();
+
+	app.use("*", async (c, next) => {
+		c.set("db", db);
+		await next();
+	});
+
+	app.route("/api/global-items", globalItemRoutes);
+	app.route("/api/items", itemRoutes);
+	return { app, db };
+}
+
+function insertGlobalItem(db: TestDb, brand: string, model: string) {
+	return db
+		.insert(globalItems)
+		.values({ brand, model, category: "bags" })
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+}
+
+function insertItem(db: TestDb, name: string) {
+	return db
+		.insert(items)
+		.values({ name, categoryId: 1 })
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+}
+
+describe("Global Item Routes", () => {
+	let app: Hono;
+	let db: TestDb;
+
+	beforeEach(() => {
+		const testApp = createTestApp();
+		app = testApp.app;
+		db = testApp.db;
+	});
+
+	describe("GET /api/global-items", () => {
+		it("returns 200 with all global items", async () => {
+			insertGlobalItem(db, "Revelate Designs", "Terrapin System");
+			insertGlobalItem(db, "Apidura", "Handlebar Pack");
+
+			const res = await app.request("/api/global-items");
+			expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+			const body = await res.json();
+			expect(body).toHaveLength(2);
+		});
+
+		it("filters results by query parameter", async () => {
+			insertGlobalItem(db, "Revelate Designs", "Terrapin System");
+			insertGlobalItem(db, "Apidura", "Handlebar Pack");
+
+			const res = await app.request("/api/global-items?q=tent");
+			expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+			const body = await res.json();
+			// "tent" doesn't match "Terrapin" or "Handlebar" — expect 0
+			// Actually let's search for something that matches
+			const res2 = await app.request("/api/global-items?q=revelate");
+			const body2 = await res2.json();
+			expect(body2).toHaveLength(1);
+			expect(body2[0].brand).toBe("Revelate Designs");
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe("GET /api/global-items/:id", () => {
+		it("returns item with ownerCount", async () => {
+			const gi = insertGlobalItem(db, "MSR", "PocketRocket 2");
+
+			const res = await app.request(`/api/global-items/${gi.id}`);
+			expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+			const body = await res.json();
+			expect(body.brand).toBe("MSR");
+			expect(body.ownerCount).toBe(0);
+		});
+
+		it("returns 404 for non-existent id", async () => {
+			const res = await app.request("/api/global-items/999");
+			expect(res.status).toBe(404);
+		});
+
+		it("returns 400 for invalid id", async () => {
+			const res = await app.request("/api/global-items/abc");
+			expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe("POST /api/items/:id/link", () => {
+		it("returns 201 when linking item to global item", async () => {
+			const gi = insertGlobalItem(db, "MSR", "PocketRocket 2");
+			const item = insertItem(db, "My Stove");
+
+			const res = await app.request(`/api/items/${item.id}/link`, {
+				method: "POST",
+				headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+				body: JSON.stringify({ globalItemId: gi.id }),
+			});
+
+			expect(res.status).toBe(201);
+			const body = await res.json();
+			expect(body.itemId).toBe(item.id);
+			expect(body.globalItemId).toBe(gi.id);
+		});
+
+		it("returns 409 when item already linked", async () => {
+			const gi = insertGlobalItem(db, "MSR", "PocketRocket 2");
+			const item = insertItem(db, "My Stove");
+
+			// Link once
+			await app.request(`/api/items/${item.id}/link`, {
+				method: "POST",
+				headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+				body: JSON.stringify({ globalItemId: gi.id }),
+			});
+
+			// Link again — should conflict
+			const res = await app.request(`/api/items/${item.id}/link`, {
+				method: "POST",
+				headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+				body: JSON.stringify({ globalItemId: gi.id }),
+			});
+
+			expect(res.status).toBe(409);
+		});
+
+		it("returns 404 when item does not exist", async () => {
+			const gi = insertGlobalItem(db, "MSR", "PocketRocket 2");
+
+			const res = await app.request("/api/items/999/link", {
+				method: "POST",
+				headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+				body: JSON.stringify({ globalItemId: gi.id }),
+			});
+
+			expect(res.status).toBe(404);
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe("DELETE /api/items/:id/link", () => {
+		it("returns 200 when unlinking", async () => {
+			const gi = insertGlobalItem(db, "MSR", "PocketRocket 2");
+			const item = insertItem(db, "My Stove");
+
+			// Link first
+			await app.request(`/api/items/${item.id}/link`, {
+				method: "POST",
+				headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+				body: JSON.stringify({ globalItemId: gi.id }),
+			});
+
+			// Unlink
+			const res = await app.request(`/api/items/${item.id}/link`, {
+				method: "DELETE",
+			});
+
+			expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+		});
+
+		it("returns 404 when item does not exist", async () => {
+			const res = await app.request("/api/items/999/link", {
+				method: "DELETE",
+			});
+
+			expect(res.status).toBe(404);
+		});
+	});
+});