Best Meat Cleavers of 2025

"I just received my new cleaver today. It has a good heft, nice balance, and excellent blade sharpness. I can’t speak to the cleaver's steel quality yet or how well it will hold its edge since it’s so new, but I’m pleased with my purchase so far. Delivery time was good too."

"I bought this for my dad, and he absolutely loves it! The first thing he noticed was the weight. Its functionality is spot-on, making it easy to use, and the sharp edge is perfect for chopping up turkeys during the holidays. It’s durable too."

"Having purchased many cleavers, I can say this one excels in heft and sharpness. It’s the best I’ve ever owned. The high carbon stainless steel ensures it stays sharp and doesn’t rust. It feels perfect in my hand and is well-balanced. I’m excited to use it for breaking up beef bones for bone broth. Highly recommended!"

"I'm really impressed with this cleaver. It's sharp right out of the box and has a great weight that makes it easy to handle. I could separate pork ribs and break down a chicken effortlessly. Plus, it looks fantastic with the wood handles!"

"This cleaver has been a wonderful addition to my kitchen. I was able to spatchcock a chicken in under a minute! Its sharpness is exceptional, and the weight feels just right. I love how it looks and performs."

"I recently replaced my old cleaver with this one, and I'm very pleased. It feels great in hand and chops wonderfully. It handles partially-frozen meats easily and is also good for fruits and vegetables. I highly recommend this knife!"

“I've found this cleaver to have an amazing feel in hand. Right out of the box, the blade is incredibly sharp. Its weight and balance are just perfect for me. Since I got it, I've been using it to dice veggies, slice meat, and chop brisket. I even ordered four more for my best friends because they all loved it.”

“This knife has been a great addition to my kitchen. It's razor sharp and makes cutting through meat a breeze. I don't use it often, but it's held up well. The grip is quite comfortable, and for the price, it’s a fantastic value. I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a reasonably priced butcher knife.”

“I've had this cleaver for about six months now, and I'm really happy with it. It’s a great all-purpose knife with excellent grip and balance. I sharpened it just once when I got it, and it has kept its edge beautifully. It’s surprisingly light for a cleaver, making it the only knife I need for all my cutting tasks.”

"For the price, this cleaver is very impressive. It's well made, heavy duty, and definitely intimidating to use. I decided to return it for something smaller, but it’s a great value overall."

"Before using the knife, I had to thoroughly wash the machine grease out of the hole in the blade. Despite that, I found this knife to be an AMAZING value. Right out of the box, it was sharp enough to cut tomatoes without squishing them. The craftsmanship is great, and it fits nicely in my XL hands. Overall, an excellent knife for the price!"

"This cleaver has a great weight and balance, perfect for cutting up chicken and other poultry. The quality is impressive for what I paid."

“I've been using this cleaver nearly every day. It’s incredibly versatile; everyone in my house grabs it for everything! I’m very particular about knife edges, and I was pleasantly surprised at how sharp it was right out of the box.”

“I decided to get this cleaver after struggling with a chef's knife on hard squash. The quality is outstanding for the price! I’ve used it for various tasks, including cutting frozen items and chopping onions.”

“This knife is of excellent quality and made in Spain. It performs wonderfully, and the delivery was impressively fast. A great addition to my kitchen.”

"I didn't want to spend much, but the reviews were good. I took a chance and I'm very happy I did! I chopped up a turkey with ease and it worked beautifully. This cleaver is very sharp, has a nice weight, and feels great in my hands. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat!"

"I was impressed with the quality and durability of this cleaver! It's medium-large, heavy, and made of high carbon stainless steel. The handle is strong, and I haven't had any issues with it. This cleaver cuts cleanly through soft avocados and hard seeds without bruising. Just be careful; it can cause serious injury if not used properly!"

"This is my first cleaver, and I absolutely love it! I'm using it to cut beets and carrots for soup, and it handles everything perfectly. It's well-balanced and makes cutting easy. Plus, the price is great, making this a win-win situation for me!"

"I finally treated myself to a good set of knives, including this meat cleaver. I knew my old knives were dull, but I had no idea how bad until I tried this. It cuts like butter! The cleaver feels sturdy and balanced, giving me confidence while chopping. Definitely a good investment! I’ll be keeping it away from the dishwasher this time!"

"After searching for a cleaver for a while, I finally chose this one and I’m so glad I did. It has a great feel, is very sharp, and is of excellent quality. I just wish I had bought it much earlier!"

"I buy whole chickens frequently and have become quite skilled at butchering them. However, due to arthritis, cutting through bones has become a challenge. I purchased this cleaver and was impressed the first time I used it; it made severing the bones much easier."

"When I received my DALSTRONG knife, I was instantly impressed by the high-quality packaging. The box was exceptionally well made, and the knife was securely held in a rubberized form. Upon removing it, I admired the beautiful finish and the razor-sharp blade. I typically use chef's knives, but this cleaver made chopping vegetables and splitting chickens a breeze. It's incredibly well-balanced and feels great in my large hands. I would highly recommend this knife and plan to buy more from DALSTRONG.”

"I just got this beautiful cleaver made of German steel, and I was pleased with the packaging—perfect for gifts. It’s well made overall, though the wood on the handle isn't perfectly aligned. I bought it to use like a large nakiri knife for big produce, and it performed well. While it's sharp, it doesn't match the sharpness of some Japanese knives, but I appreciate that it should withstand heavy use without chipping. I've been quite satisfied with it so far!”

"I bought this as a gift for my coworker, and we were both delighted with its strong thick blade. After sharpening it, we tested it on various ingredients at our restaurant. It’s still sharp, showcasing its solid steel construction. We found it to be well-balanced at 454 grams and easy to use. However, I wish DALSTRONG would ship other products like the Shogun line to Korea in the future.”

"This cleaver is really nice. The blade is very sharp and it comes with a protective cover. It fits my hand well and isn't too heavy since it's made of stainless steel. I haven't used it yet, but I believe it will do the job. I appreciate the good blade cover and its sturdy feel. I recommend it!"

"I wanted a general use knife rather than a bone cleaver, and this one fits the bill perfectly. Cutting is effortless, and the handle makes it super easy to clean. The last inch of the blade has a taper similar to that of a chef's knife, which is great for fine cutting. My bone cleaver weighs 1.5 lbs, so this lighter option at half that weight is a perfect addition to my kitchen."

“I absolutely love this cleaver knife! It's become my go-to tool in the kitchen. The blade is incredibly sharp and handles everything from chopping and slicing to boning with ease. I use it daily for meal prep, and its versatility makes it perfect for meat, vegetables, and fruits. The handle provides a comfortable grip, allowing for extended use without discomfort. I appreciate the design details that keep my fingers safely away from the cutting surface. It retains its sharpness even after frequent use. Overall, this cleaver has exceeded my expectations and is essential for my kitchen tools. Highly recommend!”

“I bought this cleaver after hearing about how easy it is to cut through winter vegetables. As someone who eats a lot of them, I found it difficult to use a chef's knife without struggling. This cleaver goes through like butter! It's comfortable to hold and of good quality. Very satisfied and I recommend it to others.”

“I used to think a knife was just a knife, but this one has totally changed my experience. Cutting vegetables is an absolute pleasure now. I sometimes slice a tomato just for fun because the knife is so sharp and evenly weighted. I can slice even a squishy tomato with minimal pressure and without making a mess. It's great for cutting through hard vegetables like winter squash and root vegetables. I highly recommend this cleaver!”