Chinese cleavers

[Homunculus]

Looks like I will be going to China for a week or two sometime in September. Been thinking of a cool souvenier to bring home, and finally thought of one. A Chinese cleaver...

I don't have much experience with them... ok, none at all. Any pointers about what to look for in a good quality one? Last thing I want to happen after all the fuss of bringing one home is to realize it's a crappy one.

Ideally, I'd love to sneak away from the tour group for a bit, and find a blacksmith somewhere to make me one. That'd be real bad (as in good) I think!

[Fred]

If you really want a really good quality one, then the best are made in Japan, not China. I'm sure you will find something, though. Enjoy the trip.

[Q_Egg]

It's been too many years since I was traveling to China on business to be of any help .... in fact it is a totally different place based on information I receive. Having said that, we brought many quality items back from various trips but they were the result of very useful guidance from Company resources in China. If you have such resources or even just solid contacts, you can take advantage of the next few months to identify one or more makers (blacksmiths) who have a strong following in their area, province, or even more of the country. It would be very special to have them make one or more items for you just prior to your trip, pick them up personally, and get pics of the maker and workplace if possible. No matter the ultimate quality, the items will be treasured for many years and constant reminders of your trip.

Hopefully some of this is possible based on the 5 months or so before you travel. I would definitely try were I in your position.

Regards,
Tom B

[MartinPiller]

When I was in China, I bought a few. If you go to Beijing, you will find a lot of shops that sell them. Normally, prices vary from $10 to $70, the quality in general is average to poor (some are stainless and a little sharp, most of them are soft iron, and likely to rust). Prepare yourself: any question will be answered with "yes". So, finding the one you really want could become a challenge.
If you go to Hong Kong, the best product I know of, would be Chan Chi Kee. I have two stainless of those and they are very nice. Prices are around $60. Their slicers have a thin blade which is pretty sharp (like my cheap Japanese knifes) and the edge retains for weeks with normal amateur use. But you must not chop with it.
Good luck and enjoy China.

Martin

[chefjohn]

CCK cleavers are well respected by the cleaver gods on the internet, they are just tough to get here in the us. If I was heading to china that si what I would search out. Q egg idea of finding a small local crafstman isnt a bad idea at all! who knows maybe you will find the next Carter or Takeda

[joecil]

If you are interested in CCK cleavers and are going through Hong Kong then you might want to check out this thread by Ken at http://knifeforums.com/forums/showto...t/1114767/hl//
He did this a while back and just about bought every thing they had while there. He even picked up a heavy CCK BBQ 1512 cleaver for me.

[Homunculus]

Excellent. Thanks for the wealth of information, everyone! My neighbor actually has some business connections in China. I need to hit him up for some questions to see what he may suggest. Ideally I'd love to find someone to make me a custom one, but I have no idea how much time, if at all, I will have away from the group.

[C-Dawg]

forget the cleaver from china, get a japanese one.

i have one word of advice in regaurds to china: EAT.

oh, and drink warm soy milk asap after you get off the plane. it helps with not getting sick from the water differences.

[Homunculus]

Eat? Oh, I plan to... Peking Duck especially!

[Ronin]

Is there some reason that no one in the U.S. or someone like Koki does not carry the CCK cleavers? It would seem like they would sell well enough to support doing so.

I would like one (or two) as I am sure many others on the forum would.