What is it?

[Rorschach]

Got this as part of a shed clearance. From the shape and handle it's obviously not a butchers type cleaver. My thoughts were probably a kindling splitter but I thought it was worth putting out to the hive mind. No names I can see at the moment but there is a healthy layer of muck and maybe a bit of rust to clean up.

 

[NazNomad]

A turned handle isn't unusual for a meat cleaver ... The blade shape looks a lot like this Italian one -

 

[Rorschach]

You are right it does. First time I have seen a turned handle cleaver but of course that doesn't mean they weren't made. It seems awful in terms of ergonomics for that job, unbalanced and I think you would hit your knuckles on the chopping board if not careful. I think I will probably re-purpose it into something, not sure what though.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Has it been bent at the narrow part of the metal?

If not, I'd tend toward the kindling chopper thing, as the angle with the handle would make more sense. I agree with you - as a meat cleaver it might be uncomfortable!

 

[bugbear]

Meat cleaver/chopper. Older style.

BugBear

 

[Rorschach]

Has it been bent at the narrow part of the metal?

If not, I'd tend toward the kindling chopper thing, as the angle with the handle would make more sense. I agree with you - as a meat cleaver it might be uncomfortable!

No bend or anything at the tang. When I first saw I thought cleaver, but then when I held it it felt more like a billhook type tool. The shape and thickness at the back gave me the impression it might be for whacking with another bit of log.
Anyway I won't be using it as a cleaver, not only would it be a bad choice but I also never have need for a cleaver anyway. I think I will probably use it as a hook-less billhook type tool for garden work or splitting wood, I'll see how it holds an edge first.

 

[bugbear]

This is cropped from a photo I snapped at the Blists Hill village butchers.

BugBear

 

[swb58]

The rule of thumb I work to is - if an item has a hole for hanging then it's designed for the butchery trade. The one in the op doesn't seem to have one.

It's too fancy and unnecessary to be a British billhook, whatever it's intended use it looks more continental to my eyes. I'd only expect to one of those cleavers ^^^^^^ hanging in a British butchers shop.

 

[bugbear]

Has it been bent at the narrow part of the metal?

If not, I'd tend toward the kindling chopper thing, as the angle with the handle would make more sense. I agree with you - as a meat cleaver it might be uncomfortable!

No bend or anything at the tang. When I first saw I thought cleaver, but then when I held it it felt more like a billhook type tool. The shape and thickness at the back gave me the impression it might be for whacking with another bit of log.
Anyway I won't be using it as a cleaver, not only would it be a bad choice but I also never have need for a cleaver anyway. I think I will probably use it as a hook-less billhook type tool for garden work or splitting wood, I'll see how it holds an edge first.

Can you let us know if you find a name/brand when you clean it up?

BugBear

 

[Rorschach]

Gave it a run under the wire brush this morning. No names/markings that I can see at all. I think it is most likely an old cleaver, trying it out in the hand again and it is more ergonomic than I first though, so probably ok for chopping etc. Tested the edge with a file and it is very hard, the file could barely touch it so I reckon with careful grinding it will take and hod a really nice sharp edge. Still not sure what I am going to do with it though so for now I will oil it up and set it aside.
The tang I notice is a complete through tang, riveted at the end of the handle, the handle is in good nick too. A coat of BLO over the whole thing will do it world of good and stop any further rusting.

 

[NazNomad]

The tang I notice is a complete through tang, riveted at the end of the handle.

I have an old Elwell cleaver with the same tang.

 

[whiskywill]

Meat cleaver/chopper. Older style.

BugBear

Cleaver clogs.

 

[ED65]

First time I have seen a turned handle cleaver but of course that doesn't mean they weren't made. It seems awful in terms of ergonomics for that job,

Is that due to it not being some kind of flat section or specifically because it's fully round?

They did have some odder ideas of ergonomics back when this design probably firmed up (500+ years ago) but I bet once it's what you're used to you'd not find any improvement in a handle with one longer axis, or also having flat sides.

...and I think you would hit your knuckles on the chopping board if not careful.

I doubt this was intended for use on a chopping block or table, at least not the way you're thinking. The clue is in the name cleaver If it is a butcher's cleaver it's for major splitting jobs, with the carcase hung on a hook or a large section just propped up on the bench or chopping block. So the edge might only strike the wood incidentally, and your hand could be well clear because of the curvature of the edge, the height of the work surface and the length of that handle.

Once the meat is reduced down to smaller sections and you're actually cutting on the board it's almost a certainty that they'd have switched to using a knife.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Meat cleaver/chopper. Older style.

BugBear

Cleaver clogs.

No - for meat. Not footwear.

 

[bugbear]

I've found an interesting evolution for cleavers of this thread, and the modern straight back type.

Here's a modern (American) example, by Dexter.

Make the handle round:

And finally curve the blade:

BugBear

 

[NazNomad]

... and my brute. Shame someone had been using it for kindling and bashing it on the spine with a hammer. I suppose I could grind it back to awesomeness if I had to?

 

[ED65]

I'd file the burr off if you want it gone. I've done this on about five or six irons recently (two from metal bench planes!) and it works well, also takes far less time than you might think.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

I'm with ED65 on this one - if it's soft enough to mushroom over like that, it's soft enough to file. If it was hard enough to need grinding, it would chip off rather than burr when struck - think chisel edge, or vintage plane iron; the top ends often burr, but they're at the soft end - the cutting edge, being at the hardened end, tends to chip rather than turn over.

 

[screwpainting]

This was originally used by other trades to behead krap plasterers and we should still be using them today.