Cleaver folding knives

R

RugerNurse

Joined
Jul 13, 2019
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648
What is the appeal about the cleaver style folding knives? Do people use them to cut food mostly? Or are they good for heavy cutting? I find them very lacking in the visual department, just curious as to what they are mostly used for.
 
Wasn't sure what you were referring to, had to look it up. I think they look cool.
 
Although I also dislike cleaver style knives, I think aesthetics might actually be a real reason that people might enjoy them. Having a flat "nose" on the knife lends itself to a different visual appeal than many other knives.

Also there could be argued to be a small benefit in longevity. The straight edge acts like a wharncliffe but the height of the blade and the flat front means that over time, as the knife is sharpened, the length and shape of the blade will not change. This means that a cleaver style blade theoretically has a much longer lifespan that many other blade shapes without losing utility or becoming unsafe. So if a person only wanted ONE knife, and their needs could be met by a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot, they could choose a cleaver style instead and get a safer blade with many of the same benefits.
 
To me, it's just a style gimmick. The only thing a folding cleaver can do is slice but not better than a simple drop point. It also can't stab or pierce well compared w/other standard blade designs. So, what's it good for other than just to "look at?"

I'm "old school" and to me a cleaver is something you should be able to break bones with. Folding cleavers do not qualify. If they did, you wouldn't be able to carry one in your pocket.

This is an example of a REAL cleaver that I inherited from my father. It's a Lamson 828 that weighs 2.75#. The blade length is 8.5" and OAL is 14.75."
No bones (including your own) are safe from it. LOL! ;)

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RugerNurse said:
I don’t mind if people buy them, I’m just surprised there is such a market for them. Every company seems to make them.
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It definitely wasn't super common a few years ago. There were a handful out there that sold really well and with the massive surge of Chinese "bring your own design" manufacturers they just blew up. Hell, even the Kershaw Launch 14 is an automatic cleaver.
 
I normally like Civivi styles but the bullmastiff one is just plain ugly. The only one worse than that is the Spyderco Stovepipe haha
 
I don't really see the appeal, myself. Like others have said, I believe it to be a stylistic choice. I had a Spyderco ROK at one point, but ended up giving it to a friend because I never carried it.
 
I like them. I bought one for the looks basically.

But they work like a sheepsfoot so good for things like opening clam shell packets. Or scoring down with the tip.

It was a lot more useful than I thought it would be. Especially for the sort of first world knife problems I generally have.

I have the gerber flat iron.

 
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