Best Forged Meat Cleavers of 2026
* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Forged meat cleavers are a must-have tool for any home cook or professional chef. These heavy-duty knives are made from high-quality materials, such as carbon steel or stainless steel, and are designed to handle tough meat and bone with ease. The forging process creates a strong and durable blade that is resistant to wear and tear, making it a reliable tool in the kitchen. The weight and balance of a forged meat cleaver allow for precise cuts and the ability to apply force when needed. Whether you're preparing a Sunday roast or breaking down a whole chicken, a forged meat cleaver is an essential tool for any kitchen.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Forged Meat Cleavers
Huusk Hand Forged Meat Cleaver
The Huusk Meat Cleaver is expertly crafted from high-carbon steel, ensuring durability and sharpness for all your cutting needs. Its unique curved blade allows you to cut through meat fibers effortlessly, making meal preparation easier. The ebony handle is designed for comfort and stability, fitting perfectly in your hand and reducing fatigue during extended use. Versatile and portable, this knife excels in the kitchen and is perfect for outdoor activities like camping and BBQs, thanks to the included leather sheath for easy carrying.
HOSHANHO 7-Inch Cleaver Knife
The HOSHANHO Cleaver Knife is designed for precision and ease in your kitchen. With its extremely sharp 15° blade angle, you can enjoy clean cuts while preparing meat and vegetables. Made from high-quality Japanese AUS-10 stainless steel, this knife maintains its sharpness over time, making it perfect for everyday use. Its ergonomic handle ensures comfort and control, reducing hand fatigue during extended cooking sessions. This versatile tool excels in various tasks, whether you're slicing fish or chopping veggies, making it an essential addition for both novice cooks and culinary experts.
Huusk Japan Knives Meat Cleaver Knife
The Huusk Japan Knives Meat Cleaver Knife is a must-have for every kitchen. With its unique handcrafted design, premium Japanese steel and ergonomic oak wood handle, this knife is perfect for cutting and mincing vegetables and meat. The outrageous thickness of the blade makes it less likely to break and delivers a sharp edge that lasts. The Huusk knife is versatile, suitable for camping and outdoor cooking, and comes with an exquisite gift box. The lifetime guarantee ensures customer satisfaction and provides a satisfying shopping experience.
ROCOCO Viking Cleaver Meat Knife
The ROCOCO Viking Cleaver is a versatile kitchen tool that makes slicing meat, fish, chicken, and vegetables easier and more efficient. Its curved blade allows you to use a rocking motion, which means you can cut with less effort and get even chopping results. Made from high-carbon steel, the blade stays sharp longer and handles tough cutting jobs with ease. The walnut handle is designed to fit comfortably in your hand, providing a secure grip and great balance. Whether you’re preparing food at home or outdoors, this cleaver offers both style and practical performance.
Matsato Japanese Steel Cleaver Knife 5.8 Inch
The Matsato Steel Cleaver is crafted from high-quality Japanese 3CR13 stainless steel, offering you sharp, long-lasting cutting power perfect for slicing meat, vegetables, and even poultry bones. Weighing only 176 grams, this lightweight knife gives you excellent control and smooth movements, making your chopping tasks easier and more precise. Its 5.8-inch hammered blade helps reduce food sticking, so you can work efficiently without constant interruptions. The ergonomic finger-hole grip ensures a comfortable, secure hold, which enhances your cutting accuracy and safety in the kitchen. All these features make this cleaver a reliable tool for everyday cooking.
imarku 7-Inch Meat Cleaver Knife
The imarku 7-Inch Meat Cleaver Knife is a multi-purpose cleaver designed for slicing, chopping, mincing, boning and cutting meat, vegetables, and fruits. The blade is hand-sharpened by experienced artisans, with a thin, ultra-sharp blade thickness of 2.3mm, making it easy to resharpen and maintain. The knife is forged from high carbon stainless steel SUS440A for easy maintenance and edge retention. The ergonomic Pakkawood handle ensures a comfortable grip and high maneuverability, making it a great kitchen essential for home and restaurant use.
BOMASS Hand-Forged Japanese Butcher Knife Set
The BOMASS Butcher Knife Set offers you three essential knives: a Viking Knife, a Meat Cleaver, and a Serbian Chef Knife. This variety lets you easily handle everything from slicing vegetables to cutting through tough meat and bones, perfect for both home and outdoor cooking. Crafted from high-carbon Japanese steel, these knives stay sharp longer and resist rust, making your cutting tasks smoother and more precise. The blades feature a sharp V-shaped edge that reduces tearing, while the non-stick coating helps food slide off easily. Plus, the ergonomic wooden handles provide a secure, comfortable grip, so you can work safely and confidently for longer periods.
ENOKING 7.5 Inch Hand Forged Meat Cleaver Knife
The ENOKING 7.5 Inch Hand Forged Meat Cleaver Knife is made of high manganese steel, which makes the blade ultra-solid and maintains sharp edges better than stainless steel. The V-shaped blade edge minimizes cutting resistance for effortless food cutting. The full tang and triple-riveted design of the ergonomic wood handle ensure comfort, maneuverability, and prevent handle breakage. This multi-purpose cleaver knife is suitable for various kitchen tasks, BBQ, hunting, hiking, and camping, and includes an after-sales guarantee from ENOKING.
Plys Kitchen Meat Cleaver Knife
The Plys Meat Cleaver is crafted using traditional hand forging techniques, ensuring a durable and sharp blade made from high-quality stainless steel. This means you get a knife that stays sharp longer and resists wear and rust. Its specially curved, hand-polished blade makes cutting food easy and precise, helping you keep the juices and nutrition inside your ingredients. The ergonomic handle is designed to reduce hand fatigue by fitting comfortably in your grip and making your cutting motions more efficient. This thoughtful design lets you work longer in the kitchen without discomfort, making meal prep easier and more enjoyable.
BOMASS Hand Forged 3-Piece Butcher Knife Set
The BOMASS 3-Piece Knife Set offers a versatile trio of knives perfect for all your kitchen needs. This set includes a Serbian-style chef knife, a cleaver, and a Viking knife, each designed to tackle different tasks like slicing vegetables, chopping meat, and splitting bones, making your food prep quicker and easier. The blades are hand-forged from high-carbon steel, ensuring sharpness and durability so you get clean, precise cuts every time. Comfortable wooden handles with finger grooves provide a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during long cooking sessions. Plus, the hammered blade surface helps prevent food from sticking, making cutting smoother and cleanup faster.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are meat cleavers good for?
Meat cleavers are versatile tools that are perfect for tenderizing, mincing, slicing, and even scaling meat. They are especially useful when dealing with whole pieces of meat that still have bones.
2. Why do Chinese chefs only use cleavers?
Chinese chefs prefer cleavers because of their design, which offers great versatility. The broad, rectangular blade with a flat edge, measuring around 6-9 inches long and 4-5 inches wide, allows for chopping through tough ingredients like chicken bones. The heavier blade provides more heft and makes it easier to handle.
3. Why do meat cleavers have a hole?
The hole on a meat cleaver's heavy-duty blade serves a practical purpose. It allows you to hold the upper part of the blade with your fingers, while reinforcing your grip on the handle. This design feature makes it easier to pull the blade free, saving you energy, time, and frustration when cutting through bone.
4. Do cleavers cut through bone?
Yes, meat cleavers are excellent for cutting through tough cuts of meat and small bones, such as those found in chicken. They are also great for mincing meat for hand-ground applications, and their wide, flat side can be used to crush ingredients like garlic, ginger, and lemongrass.
During our forged meat cleaver research, we found 24 forged meat cleaver products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 59,117 customer reviews through our big data system to write the forged meat cleavers list. We found that most customers choose forged meat cleavers with an average price of $30.76.
The forged meat cleavers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of forged meat cleavers, including Huusk, HOSHANHO, ROCOCO, Matsato, imarku. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 546 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.
Rebecca Cantu grew up in a family-owned retail store for home and kitchen products. She worked online and gave assistance to people to buy ideal products for their sweet home after graduating from Northwestern University with a marketing degree. She has been writing content for online shopping guides since 2011 with her professional knowledge and natural sensitivity of appliances.