Cleavers anybody?

mneedham

mneedham

Joined
Jul 8, 2006
Messages
2,776
Hey guys,

I've always thought that a cleaver would be a pretty handy thing around the property/camp, but never really carried one (I'm sure they were used in the woods at some point in American history). I've been eyeballing those Condor Aztec Cleavers for a bit and think I will pick one up. But, in the interim,I picked this rig a couple of days ago off Ebay and I kinda like it. Its an IKEA cleaver (12") in a handmade sheath. The pocket on the front is for a pocket chainsaw (I'm actually partial to folding saws..). I'm not sure if the rig was designed for game processing or woods use, but I find it interesting. I'm curious if anybody has any experience with a cleaver in the woods?



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I used to carry an old german butchers cleaver into the woods. 1/2" thick spine, and a blade about 12" x 5" with a large handle and wood slabs. It kicked arse on my axes, it kicked arse on my long choppers, it kicked arse on my saw. The sheer weight of it would bury it about 5" deep when V notching a log. Often 2 strokes into a log, followed by a swing upwards would seperate a small 10" log. I used the back of the spine for hammering in tent pegs and for 'bumping" off knots on logs. dont know where i left though....
 
Pretty cool....I'm assuming it is, but is it a full tang? Probably could find lots of uses for a good chopper like that.
 
I have never used one..but GANG OF NEWYORK is an awesome cleaver movie!!!
 
I have often thought that a old carbon steel cleaver would be a great woods walking tool. I will be watching to see just how useful it is.

Paul
 
Bushman - Yep, I believe that.. I like the feel of a cleaver in the hand. I'll take this one outside and cut some kindling in a while, see how it works..

Twodogs - It is full tang, but it is far from being the biggest, heaviest cleaver I've held. Comfortable on the belt though...

Gene - I'd think a cleaver would make a fearsome weapon! Everybody who handles my Monster Nessie, which is cleaver like, always ponders that....
 
i have thought of using a cleaver before...i even have a small "cleaver" i keep handy in the shop for shaping some wood things...but it is small and lightweight.

i once rehandled a monster of a cleaver for someone, it was alot like the one bushman described. big, thick, and heavy. once the handle was on it, it felt like a real chopper!

we have a pretty good sized cleaver in the kitchen that noone ever uses...i might take it out back and hack at some stuff with it.
 
^ make sure you put a more convex edge on it........i sharpened mine so it could cut paper, first log it chipped, back to a blunter (but sharp edge)
 
Haven't seen you posting in awhile, though maybe you were hibernating....

I always thought that big ole Koster Nessie of yours was very cleaver like as well.

I think Bushman is right. With the right edge it should do fairly well in the woods.

Let us know how it fairs please.
 
I have several Old Hickory Cleavers that belonged to my mother. Every kitchen used to have one before all the stores started selling cut up chickens. When ever my mother would start a meal, the old cleaver came out of the drawer. I am going to make a nessie out of one of them this summer.
 
Valcas - I'll post the results of my wood splitting experiences....

Siguy - Let me know how you make out...

Tony - Not hibernating, just working my ass off (and grateful for it...). I was thinking that an SAK/multi-tool and a decent cleaver would cover a lot of chores.

UDT - Don't you own a Condor Cleaver? If so, how do you like it? Does stay in the rotation?
 
Good to see you again mneedham. I was going to say the exact same thing as TonyM regarding your monster nessie. In any event it will be interesting to see these two go against one another head to head. I'm not sure how I feel about the aesthetics of a cleaver. I don't get all googli-eyed 'I want that' reaction with cleavers than I do with other blade shapes.

Also, check out some of RichardJ's knives. He has some unique blade shapes that bear some resemblance to the cleaver/chopper.
 
Thanks for posting this I've been thinking about using a kitchen knife out and about in the woods. I'll have to take some pics of the one I've been thinking about.
 
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Here is a huge splitter dating from around the time of the US Civil War. It is a single massive forged piece over 21 inches in OAL.

n2s
 
kgd said:
Good to see you again mneedham. I was going to say the exact same thing as TonyM regarding your monster nessie. In any event it will be interesting to see these two go against one another head to head. I'm not sure how I feel about the aesthetics of a cleaver. I don't get all googli-eyed 'I want that' reaction with cleavers than I do with other blade shapes.

Also, check out some of RichardJ's knives. He has some unique blade shapes that bear some resemblance to the cleaver/chopper.
Click to expand...


KGD,

I think that Hollowdweller once said that the Monsternessie was a Hudson bay pattern, I can't argue with that, but it feels like a cleaver. Man I love that knife... Its a little more beat up now, but still pretty!

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I agree that cleavers don't grab the eye, but just hold one in your hand.. The heft of a cleaver will warm the heart of nearly every knife lover... Of course holding the Monster nessie simply causes arousal:D!
 
Not2sharp - Holy crap!

Rio - I like that door, how big is the cleaver?

Rupes - Nice work!
 
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