Golden Bird 10in Meat Cleaver, Butcher Knife for Meat Cutting, Heavy Duty Meat Cleaver Knife, Stainless Steel Bone Chopper Knife, Forged Cleaver Knife (550g)

First, I didn't know if I should put it in the knife drawer, put it on display or just stash it with my treasures. It is truly the most beautifully crafted cutlery I have ever owned. The etching is superb. The brass fittings are exact fits. Gripping the handle is like holding hands with someone you love.Speaking of someone you love... If you have someone in your life that loves to cook and appreciates fine cutlery, this is a wonderful gift. I think that any guy that likes to show off in the kitchen will really appreciate this knife by Golden Bird.On the business side of things, it is so well balanced, there is no effort at all in manipulating it. It's like an extension of your hand. The solid Damascus steel blade is thick and heavy, giving you plenty of cutting power with little effort. The edge really is razor sharp. I shaved some hair off my arm with it! The blade is made the old school way of heavy steel, not stainless, like the knives in traditional kitchens of the Far East. So, yes, don't think you can run it through the dishwasher. That would be very bad. The best way to care for this knife/cleaver is to rinse it off with hot water, wipe it down and always keep a little animal fat (or vegetable oil) on it to keep it from rusting. And, run it over a fine hone occasionally to keep that razor edge.Even though it is a beautifully crafted work of art, it's still intended to be used. Traditionally, this is a 'one blade does it all' kind of knife. Yes, you can cut a chicken in half with one whack. But, you can also slice meats and veggies paper thin. The balance and shape of this wonderful kitchen blade is designed to do it all. It may take a little practice. Just like learning to play the violin. But, it will be so satisfying to grab this beautiful edge and master it, doing all you cutting in the kitchen with one perfect blade.I really like this Golden Bird cleaver. I look forward to mastering it and using it the way it was intended. Five stars.

Right out of the box there was a problem. 100% cosmetic, but it detracts from the beauty of this knife. On one side the tigers body has been buffed so most of the "black" is buffed. On the other side is the same but not as bad. I call this a Monday Friday knife. It was made on a Friday when they were looking forward to the weekend, or on a Monday when they were recovering from it.BUT the blade is solid everything else is awesome. touched up the edge and it slices perfectly. But one of the reasons I bought it was for the "cool" factor.

Easy to work with! The grip & sharp blade make it fairly safe in the right hands. It is a taskmaster and even cuts through semi-frozen meat without too much of a problem.

got oxidized by just staying in the drawer

It is beautiful, well made and worth the money. I wish I had ordered one with the sheave.