Why Carry a Pocket Cleaver Knife?

Look at knives long enough, and you will run into a folding pocket cleaver. Pocket cleavers are an interesting and unique knife shape, but why would you ever carry a pocket cleaver. In this video I take a look at a couple of reasons why people carry folding pocket cleaver knives, and if one is right for you!
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[@murray7343]

Been carrying a Gerber Flat Iron (a cleaver style) for 2 years and love it. It has been great for the construction/farming/outdoors applications I find myself in. I, like most middle age Dads, have a pile of pocket knives but the cleaver keeps finding its way into my pocket.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Bob...-yt5fy]

I like the gerber tri tip

[@dannysees]

The best way to cut difficult to cut materials is with a tip. Even when pretty dull they will cut. The best way to have a thin tip that cuts extremely well but isn't fragile is having steel behind it, less acute angle. They angle the tip out in front of you (the best cutting part of a blade right...) and make massive punctures when throwing quick jab movements. Not as deep but longer/wider. People call them cleaver but are more about being a beefier straight razor. Give the most cutting power possible in a regular sized pocket knife.

[@LB-np5zv]

Wharncliffe would be better right

[@jdnotariano]

You make some good points. The clever blade gives up more than it adds in a folding knife. The one thing it does add is a taller blade profile so that you can use a flat grind and get a very acute edge. I would much prefer a “chisel” blade profile in a pocket knife. Where the leading edge is more squared off and sharpened like a chisel.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I did see a couple blades with chisel profiles while I was researching pocket cleavers. That is something that I could see as being useful. A knife with a sharp cutting edge and a good wood chisel edge could be very handy to the common tradesman. Its something I would use.

[@jlborish]

Dude, love the F'n humor sprinkled into the review. Sub'd you. Thanks for doing what you do. Stay safe out there brother. JB

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Thank-you for your support! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and I look forwards to seeing you around the channel!

[@eatmelily]

LOL, Same reason I just Sub'd....Nice info. I've never felt the need for one, but I bought a Gerber Tri tip, about a year ago, and it's nice in a pinch for whacking an Apple, or two.....

[@masonw536]

I have a spiderco roc and let me tell you the the form vastly outweighs the function. I love carrying it just to look at it. It is such a beautiful knife( too bad the blade isn’t stainless tho)

[@samueljackson856]

why do you need a pocket cleaver? it's like asking, "what do i get for a guy that has everything?" it's a statement that you have collected so many knives that you are in the point in your collection where you are just looking for weird shit. personally, i use my cleavers for cutting my cigars and my fine cheeses and peppers. cheers.

[@ricardovazquez9113]

Answer is obvious. You need a cleaver knife so you can cut your tacos! Duh! 🌮

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Taco Tuesday EDC?

[@usernameisusername]

I thought it was to compensate for your small 🥒

[@yeayouknowitsme9839]

I got one of these for Christmas and I have been carrying it for almost a month now and I have to say it’s much much more practical than I thought. But I do have to learn how to keep it sharp.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

A sharp knife is a sharp knife. Its not that they aren't useful, its that other knives are more helpful. But what really matters is what works for you. As for keeping it sharp I like to use a Spyderco sharpmaker. I have an older video showing how to use it.

[@chitterlingsrtasty]

I’ve recently starting getting into knives(seriously) and the spyderco sharpmaker is awesome.

[@NUFIGHTER]

I have a Civivi Bullmastiff full size that I use to break down and cut down boxes. It does a great job for that task and keeps its edge.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I like my Civivi knives. They are a good quality for the price and very smooth.

[@BaconBastard9000]

I just want to get one so that one day the news will say “man defends himself with a cleaver (gerber tri tip) and hacks away at the enemy”

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I will keep watch in the news for that...

[@dandildarious4849]

For a folding knife, a sheepsfoot or wharncliffe blade makes much more sense imo.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Agreed. The cleaver knife sacrifices the advantages of the sheepsfoot and wharncliffe without contributing anything new in exchange.

[@rogersiples3335]

Thanks, I'm in the market for a cleaver edc for my knife collection. D2 3-4" blade. Just about got it narrowed down. The Gerber's are looking good.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Sounds good. Have fun with your new toy!

[@diegomercado5812]

Check out the xl korvid you might like it

[@mathewboyer5141]

I carry a Gerber Quadrant For the fact I can use it as a flat head screw driver in certain occasions, or a mini prybar, actually has a lot of off label functions.

[@ChrisMillerdoubleplanet]

Cleaver is just the shape of the blade. These little cleavers are basically BOX CUTTERS, which is the number one use of knives.

[@zeero78]

Check out the Artisan Cutlery Corsair, cleaver with a point, Carbon Fiber and frame lock! I love it!

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I'll be sure to check it out! Thanks for the heads up!

[@kahuna1247]

I love this video, you are on point! I just bought a Kizer mini sheep dog from Amazon at 2:00am... because it looked cool and is more pocket friendly!

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@greghill1106]

Yeah I can relate, I've had a lot of knives over the years but I'm looking for a cleaver type mainly for the beefier blade and I think it looks cool!

[@quinnmclaughlin7537]

honestly you confirmed to me that I should get a proper pocket cleaver not a sheepsfoot, you may compare them to safety scissors but I actually arrived at them as an alternative to a Box Cutter, specifically the full-size Mastiff/Mastadone, and, in a way you are right that pocket cleavers can't chop what regular cleavers do, But pocket cleavers give you enough blade to hold it alternatively and cut/chop more than other folding knives.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I'm glad you got value out of the video, which was my goal. I try to provide useful information and recommendations to my audience so they can make informed decisions. Like I mentioned at the end of the video, there really isn't any reason not to carry one if you want to. A sharp edge is a sharp edge. Wharncliffes do tend to be skinnier, but there are blades such as the Ronin and Yojimbo which have the broader blade combined with the acute tip which allow choking up on the blade. I have an interview with Mike Janich you might find interesting where he discusses that. He was one of the driving forces behind the development of the modern wharncliffe. At any rate, thanks for commenting, and I hope to see you around the channel again!

[@tweekachu2605]

Just bought one. I absolutely love it. Gonna use it for food prep and carving runes.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Which one did you pick?

[@tweekachu2605]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel to be honest I walked up to the counter at Walmart and said "I want that". And dude gave me the knife and chunked the box. It’s grayish brown in color and a washed out looking blade. D2 I believe but I’m impressed if it’s not.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

@@tweekachu2605 I may or may not be guilty of doing that as well...

[@tweekachu2605]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel I can now confirm that it is wonderful for carving.

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

that damascus cleaver looks awesome

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Its a nice looking blade, and well constructed. Not something I'm interested in carrying around but it is a nice budget show piece.

[@colinjohnson8511]

I have a Civivi mini Mastodon and i love it. i love cleavers in the kitchen and i love the look of my Mastodon. though i think of it as more like a santoku knife if we are to reference kitchen blades. i 'm not outdoorsy or a handy man , its main use is a box cutter and some other light tasks. but its a joy to use and to have in my pocket for when i need it.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Very cool! Thanks for commenting and I hope to see you around the channel again!

[@Lemon_Sage9999]

The Civivi Mastodon and the full sized bullmastiff kind of defeat the "a little better on the Public eye" thing, they are MASSIVE

[@JAMESGREGORYKULP1985]

I just bought a cleaver blade Folding pocket knife. I bought the Kershaw static it has a 2.9 inch 8CR13MOV stainless steel satin finish blade.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

How do you like it so far?

[@JAMESGREGORYKULP1985]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel I like a lot it is a cool little pocket knife.

[@jamesbudd9900]

I've had the static for a few weeks now and I love it. Goes through boxes like nobody's business.

[@waskozoids]

I leave a scar to remember me by.. them knives are razor blades.

[@mathewjeffery3592]

It's basically for food prep man and light edc it's not a "chopper" or even advertised as one I don't believe.

[@mikehubbard5493]

That's kinda wacked if you think the knife maker intended that knife for chopping. Just a cool little slicer.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Your right; the blade is a cool little slicer I like having it as part of my collection. But because the name "cleaver" is associated with it, there are a lot of people who automatically think its a hacking blade, regardless if its the Bullmastiff, Spyderco Roc, etc. This video managed to get through to a couple people. Several messaged me and I believe there is one guy in the comments for this video who realized these knives weren't made for the chopping they wanted to do.

[@jasonanderson7020]

im a butcher and im looking for a knife to cut open the cryovac packages the meat comes in. im tired of dulling my boning knives doing this. what would you suggest? im not gonna bring in my 250$ para3 , i need something on the cheaper side.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Thanks for commenting! So here is a couple options. If you would like a full sized pocket knife for cheaper, then I would say the Spyderco Delica is a good way to go. I'll link to the wharncliffe version below: wharncliffes tips are great for that kind of work. amzn.to/3P0Lzts A little bit more of a budge option is a Civivi Elementum. I don't have one in my collection, but based off the quality of the build of the Mini Bullmastiff in this video, I'm comfortable suggesting it. It has D2 steel which isn't as resistant to corrosion as the Delica, but D2 is an excellent steel and if you care for it I don't forsee any problems. I've linked the Elementum below. amzn.to/38Sn4hq Let me know if you have any questions!

[@jasonanderson7020]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel thank you so much for the insight!

[@monkeymcgee3630]

The buck 263 hiline has a decently hefty D2 steel blade

[@IanG66]

Haven't purchased a cleaver until now - and having seen your vid - won't be buying one either. Thanks for the clear argument - but having your hand lower than the blade edge takes all the steam out of pocket cleavers. Thanks again!

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I'm glad it was helpful! Try looking at a wharncliffe blade: similar shape and design with more capabilities. I have an interview with Mike Janich talking about them. I hope to see you around the channel in future!

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

Subscribed!

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Thanks for your support! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel you're very welcome I'm so glad to see somebody touch on this issue that drives me crazy, I wish they would stop this fad, it's the stupidest thing that's happened to the knife industry I've ever seen! Lol

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel also I want to let you know that KZbin has this way I have only 390 subscribers so it's easy for me to see when they're taking my friends away but I've lost as many as 25 subscribers a night and they do it to my other knife Channel friends you know so of course I noticed them because I like watching their knife reviews but I think it's because they don't like our kind of content I didn't know if you were aware of that but I think it sucks I just had to resubscribe to you and I already did when I seen your video.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep an eye out.

[@alfredlee6155]

I have a Gerber flat iron, I do carry it for self-defense. With the weight and size of the knife and defensive situation. If I hit someone with that blade they’re going down. God for bed.

[@vincentriley8626]

Love your channel, you’re becoming the hickok45 of knives / edged tools.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Thank-you! I'm glad you have been enjoying the channel!

[@MrDDiRusso]

The santoku knife is the safety chef's knife.

[@williamyoung369]

Never had or used one, but it would be good for EDC because working around a sharp tip type blade is more dangerous. This would be safer.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Like I said, safety scissors of knives.

[@MarlonOwnsYourCake]

Seems like they would be good for wood carving

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

You could definitely make chips with one, but wood carving knives typically have finer points so that you are able to get into tighter areas for detail work.

[@DavidDegnan]

See I thought cleavers would get less weird kooks,but I've been called Sweeney Todd by multiple people cuz of my CRKT Razel fixed lol

[@elfwithabike]

I bought one as a cheaper straight razor. I can get a hallow grind and d2 steel blade in a Gerber flatiron or there are many other similar on my favorite blade site and it was $30 to the door where a davo is at least 100 and more likely 200+. The cheap straight razors on Amazon dont list blade steel or hardness and are cheap plastic handle unknown factors. I am very surprised no one else has mentioned this use?

[@hofx666]

I just purchased one because it looked cool and to use at work. I don’t see any other reason to have it besides that it looks cool to me.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Nothing wrong with buying a cool looking knife!

[@kniffeine]

You got the mini one

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Thanks for the correction. When I have the chance I'll go back in and add some corrections.

[@williamthompson9262]

Wouldn’t the blade tip be considerably stronger, due to the fact that there isn’t one? Sometimes my knives are pry bars, or screwdrivers, that might be an advantage

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Stronger yes, considerably not as much as you would think. There are other blades that have a secondary bevel shaped as a chisel that achieve the same thing and provide more utility, and are actually designed for that work. The issue I have with pocket cleaver is that the design sacrifices a lot, and doesn't really gain you anything in return especially for the price. If your knife is a prybar, do you want to pay 10 or 20 bucks and get a cheapo blade thats going to break, or get a pocket cleave for a couple times more than that that will last a little longer and then also break.

[@gusmartinez8489]

Cleavers are sweet

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

What do you like about the cleavers?

[@3Cliffhanger]

Im searching for a cleaver to sharpen my carpenter pencil with a blade length under 4 inches. I'm know using a kershaw shuffle 2 for sharpening

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

A cleaver certainly would be capable of doing that. I do like the Civivi mini-Bullmastiff I have.

[@Crimethoughtfull]

What?? I missed out on an entire trend thing?? Booo! I moved out of the US in '14 for European climes. Pocket knives are VERY frowned upon in some places. It was tough to stop carrying one, as I got my first pocket knife (3-blade Old Timer) when I was 10. Now, here in New Zealand, I don't carry a pocket knife--almost nobody does. The clever blade seems a bit silly, but I still somehow feel bad that I missed out.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

You weren't missing out on much. I hope to see you around the channel again!

[@bobjohnson1633]

I got a white river camp cleaver because it is 90% belly and there is no bolster to block the blade. It will cleave and it will slice like a mofo.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Very nice!

[@eric805]

Maybe I need a cleaver knife

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Maybe you do!

[@philharvey3334]

That Stec "tactical cleaver" is a rip off of one of my customs.

[@adammcguinness9950]

Ci-vi-vi…..you have the mini Bullmastiff there. The full size Bullmastiff/Mastodon are much beefier. Cleavers are great and have their place in the knife world. I didn’t see you having any problems using it.🤷🏻‍♂️

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Every knife has its place in the knife world. Its a sharp edge you can cut things with, so its useful. My point is that the design profile gives up more than it brings to the table. Even the full sized Bullmastiff is only a little over 2 oz heavier than the mini. You get a little more edge which is nice, but not anywhere near enough mass in order to actually really hack through anything. The question is really what do pocket cleavers bring to the table that other knives don't?

[@alphadawg81]

I normally enjoy your content quite a bit. But this video was a bit ridiculous. As you said we are talking about "cleaver style" knives. They aren't meant for hacking. If you want to hack buy a Cold Steel 4MAX or an AD10 since these knives are actually constructed to handle the impact.

[@OutlawRippa]

Why mini tho

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

No particular reason. The mini is more akin the the blade sizes I carry regularly, such as Delicas and Yojimbos. But the Bullmastiff isn't large enough in order to significantly change what I saw with the mini.

[@OutlawRippa]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel I just got the full size and it’s a monster. Thanks for sharing!

[@ATD909]

Legality , I live in California and the weapon carrying laws are strict

[@alexanderbabjak6265]

You carry a pocket clever to make soup for your attackers, change my mind.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I feel like free soup may be an incentive for a robber...

[@alexanderbabjak6265]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel You see that was my plan all a long. You poison the soup and take the robbers wallet. Easy as pie

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Unconventional

[@verdatum]

In my book, everything about this design is a fail. I don't consider myself a bladesmith, but I do have a few hundred hours blacksmithing. And as a kid, my parents had what looked like a clever, but it lacked the heft and the proper bevel and as a result, it was practically worthless. A pocket variant would only be massively worse.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I'm not a fan of the pocket cleavers for those reasons.

[@soupy7948]

Do you think a pocket cleaver would work in a self defense situation againts a crazy animal. or worse.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I would not recommend a pocket cleaver for that purpose. I have another video on selecting a knife for self defense I would recommend to you.

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

I don't want to cleaver knife because it's dumb I want a knife that cuts stabs and slices I don't want to knife that you take its ability to do one of those things away it's like making a knife that has a tip the stabs but no Cutting Edge why Cutting Edge with no ability to stab a folding Cleaver does not Chop it's stupid it's dumb idea!

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

I'm not a fan of them either myself.

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

@@TheKnifeLifeChannel I know we all have different tastes and knives but I just can't understand why you want to take away a knife's ability to do things that doesn't make sense oh and also I don't know if you know this I'm sure you're aware every time turn around you have to resubscribe to all your friends all my fellow knife content friends they unsubscribe me so I have to go down the list I did subscribe to your channel but I'm sure that's going to be a regular occurrence with them unsubscribing.

[@ave649]

There are plenty of other kitchen knifes that will be more suited for your needs. Note that the silly video did not discuss the purpose of the knife other that use as a kitchen knife.

[@ave649]

Are you trying to be funny or informative? Pointed pocket cleavers aren't for chopping LOL! The wharncliff design creates a blade tip with a better slashing ability than a standard edged blade. Most are plenty pointy enough for stabbing. If not, altering the point edge angle can be easily done on a belt sander then some light polishing. The wide blade creates faster blood loss from a stab, leading to quicker unconsciousness, in a defensive situation. Most knife fights are over as soon as someone gets a bad cut. The wharncliff tip will do so quite easily. Your opinions are too biased and do not reflect reality. The wharncliff blade design also creates a stronger blade, and a stronger blade tip. I currently carry an Artisan Cutlery Proponent with titanium scales and a titanium liner for butt strikes. It has the proper tip angle for perforating, and the wharncliff blade tip and edge for severing. If anyone wants to see a really good knife movie they should try to get: A Grande Arte ( 1991 ) starring Peter Coyote. It's based on the Persevs ( perforate and sever ) bodyguards of Argentina. Peter Coyote learns knife fighting to avenge the death of really nice girl he knew. Body guards are only allowed to carry knifes for protection work. Concealed gun carry permits for civilians is prohibited.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

A lot of people believe that pocket cleavers are made for chopping. In fact some knifemakers explicitly state that they are. As stated in the video, I don't put much stock in that. Yes, you can alter the point to a true wharncliffe with a belt sander. But one: how many people in the general public have access to a belt grinder and are disposed towards doing that, and two: why would you buy a knife that cant thrust well in the first place. I am a strong proponent of the wharncliffe. I would recommend watching my interview with Michael Janich about the Wharncliffe. He was one of the guys driving the development of the modern wharncliffe folder.

[@joenisnapje712]

The concept of a pocket cleaver is utterly ridiculous and at best called a contradiction in terms 🤣

[@scrappybobbarker5224]

Pocket clever, a pointless knife.

[@ave649]

Your comment is as pointless as the top of your head.😇😸

[@lostcat9lives322]

The sailor "rope knife" is the safety scissor of knives.

[@TheKnifeLifeChannel]

Looks like a pocket cleaver.

[@barbourlmilan1173]

poco PERIKOLOSO