Thread: Meat Cleaver w/copper

Like many of us Im attracted to any kind of blade. I display meat cleavers in my barber shop. It's kind of an oxymoron, butcher/barber tools. They're great for sparking conversation. My most recent cleaver is a super heavy duty home made job with a copper handle. This thing must weigh 5 lbs +. I'm impressed with the craftsmanship. Wish I could see it when it was new!

how does it shave?

it wouldn't take much to make it look new. I'm sure there are restoration guys here that would do it in short time.
Or,,,
You can keep the character that it has now,,,,

Nice one, Josh! I have a few smaller ones, but my criteria is they must have razor-maker's names on them!
Is there a maker's mark upon it?

Spent time on the handle end of one of them as a apprentice barber Butcher at 14yoa. That is a beauty!

~Richard
<<<<Old age and lots of time on a shave forum will do that to ya!>>>

Clean it with 000 steel wool and WD40 and hone that puppy up. That old carbon steel will take a great edge. A piece of plastic hose slit up on one side will protect the edge in a drawer or make a cardboard Saya.

I have several, used to be able to buy them for a buck, at yard sales and flea markets.

You might be surprised how handy they are in the kitchen, the small ones about 4-5 inch width are very versatile for butchering and even chopping anything from meat to veggies.

Nice find, enjoy.

Nice cleaver. If it is for display I wouldn't do too much to it.
Are you going to get an axe too?

There were some cleavers at a nearby antique store I wish I could have bought, but they were too expensive. One of them was a HEAVY two handed cleaver. I think they wanted like $75-150 for it though.

If you’re going to display it, put a Mustard/Saran Wrap finish on it, for a cool look, it will also protect the steel.

I can remember as a kid a little corner store where they sold candy and meat. It was a Polish store and the women could not speak to much English. She was just a little tiny old thing. She use to lug those beef slabs around and she use to cut or chop them up with a big 2 handed meat cleaver.

The funny part is my uncle told me that use to be a barber shop there years ago before they decided to put there store there.

Mary Swatlowski her name was....she would be well over 110 today. They don't make them like her any more.

I remember a local meat market which shut down several years ago. They had a big old butcher block in the back. Kindof rounded over. Couldn't of been too sanitary, I suppose. I saw them wailing some steaks out on it once. Fun to watch.
They had a sign up. Said "Don't allow your kids to sit on the butcher block! We may get a little behind in our business!"