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Cleaver
Basic Models 220mm x 110mm 52100 Cleaver
$16.00This 52100 cleaver is a one off. The specs are the same as the AEB-L cleavers. The primary difference is that the finish on the blade is more of a dark grey and less of a black. This blade is being sold at a 10% discount due to some warping at the spine (the edge remains straight). See blow for pictures of the defect.
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Cleaver
Basic Models Cleavers (Made To Order)
$25.00 – $50.00Price range: $25.00 through $50.00“Basic Models” knives are made to order in intervals of 8 weeks, or 10 orders, whichever comes first. Ordering places you in queue for a batch knife, the “Basic Models” knives are not stocked.
These are my “Basic Models Cleavers”, like the “Basic Models” gyutos, santokus, bunka, nakiri and sujihiki they are the most basic and affordable knives I can produce
They feature:
-Burned oak handles from reclaimed wood
-Low, high bevels
-Convex zero grinds, hand sharpened
-Nail flexing edges
-As quenched finishes
-1.6mm blade stock
-Forward balance
-100mm-115mm tall
-AEB-L stainless steel
-Rounded spines and choils
-Weights in the 300g-500g range (the depicted 220mmx110mm weighs 362g)
-Excellent food release
-Cutting ability close to more extensively ground blades
– ~$250 CAD and below price point for most offeringsI have tested the Basic Models Cleavers and I have to say, part of me is a bit irritated at just how well they do considering how rough they are. They aren’t pretty, and they’re not intended to be, and tip cuts aren’t quite as smooth as they would be on blades with more taper, but these are undoubtedly performers.
*I know that cleaver profiles can be somewhat variable, but the one I have chosen for these blades is flat in the central area with a slight upsweep at either end
** The cleavers are only available in AEB-L at the moment
***Basic Models” knives generally feature some dimpling from mechanical straightening.
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Kitchen Knives
S35VN Basic Cleavers
$330.00 – $380.00Price range: $330.00 through $380.00MADE TO ORDER
This is a very limited release of S35VN steel knives. This steel is a high vanadium tool steel created in 2009 as a replacement for S30V and is something of a precursor to the ever popular MagnaCut.
S35VN has toughness roughly in line with CPM-154 (RWL-34) and XHP and approximately double the toughness of SG2 and VG10 with similar edge retention to S30V, MagnaCut, Zwear and CPM-154.
Its carbide composition is very similar to Zwear with a limited amount of vanadium/niobium carbide so unlike MagnaCut I would consider this steel fully serviceable on convention synthetic or natural stones just like Zwear (which sharpens just beautifully off of my Belgian Blue whetstone).
This item is a very limited release because there was only a singular sheet of thin S35VN available for sale in Canada at the time of purchase. Furthermore this sheet was purchased prior to the reciprocal tariff situation making it approximately 25%-33% less expensive than it would be to purchase the same sheet today.
The knives will be as follows:
- 220mm x 110mm
- S35VN @ roughly 63hrc
- neckless
- roughly 350g-380g finished weight
- with the same finish as my AEB-L “Basic Models” Cleavers
- there will most likely be dimples from peen straightening
- Low bevels, convex, belt finished
- radiused spines and choils
- two handle sizing options available as well as a multitude of woods including the standard burned oak
- “No handle” option available if you have your own (please leave handle slot size H+W in the order notes so I can cut it to the right size for you)
- lead time of approximately 8 weeks on these, hopefully much less
To read the makers summative assessment of various steels click Here
To read more about S35VN click Here
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Cleaver
205mm 80CrV2 Tsuchime Cleaver
$650.00A 205mm 80CrV2 Tsuchime Cleaver
This is a somewhat unique blade in that it’s a forge finished 80CrV2. Of the carbon steels, 80CrV2 and 1084 are the only ones available in Canada in cleaver width sheets, and that’s not a bad thing as I think that those steels are particularly better suited to cleavers than steels like W2 or 26c3 owing to their significantly greater toughness. This blade is essentially 2/3 flat with a slight upsweep to the tip in the last 1/3. Admittedly this blade is flatter ground than I find ideal, but it’s difficult to make a convex grind and preserve tsuchime with my current set up. Interestingly this my 365th kitchen knife and it came out to 365g.
Blade Details
Blade: 207mmx79mm 80CrV2 (64-65hrc) belt finished + tsuchime
Handle: Burned oak, oil finished and waxed
POB: 75mm from the handle
Spine: 3.2mm stock, no meaningful taper
Grind: RH biased fairly flat
Weight: 365g
Relieved choil and spine
Edge: .18mm@1mm measured at the midpoint,Blade Special Features
Forged tsuchime finish 205mm 80CrV2 Tsuchime Cleaver
For more information on 80CrV2 steel click here: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2022/06/23/how-to-heat-treat-80crv2/
For the maker’s summative impressions of 80CrV2 click here: https://msicardcutlery.com/knife-making-steel-information-faq/

