HEZHEN FU 7" Chinese Cleaver Knife – Best Chinese Cleaver for Veg Prep (9Cr18MoV, HRC 59)
HEZHEN FU Series – 7" Chinese Cleaver Knife 3-layer San-Mai-9Cr18MoV Steel Core
9Cr18MoV stainless core • 3-layer san-mai • HRC 59 ± 1 • Vacuum deep-cooling heat-treat • Padauk & buffalo-horn handle
Bring pro-level control to big prep days. This slim, stainless Chinese cleaver (caidao) effortlessly slices through piles of greens, roots, and boneless proteins, featuring a hand-finished 15°-per-side edge that cuts cleanly and retains sharpness. A stabilized padauk handle with a black buffalo-horn ferrule provides a confident, ambidextrous grip and balance for extended sessions.
Specifications
- Brand / Series: Hezhen • YM3L FU Series
- Blade style & length: Chinese Cleaver (caidao), 7.0" / 180 mm
- Construction: 3-layer san-mai (9Cr18MoV core, SUS410 stainless cladding)
- Heat Treatment: Vacuum Deep-Cooling Heat Treatment
- Hardness: HRC 59 ± 1 allows for better edge retention
- Edge geometry: ~15° per side (30° inclusive)
- Blade thickness: ~2.4 mm at spine (tapered)
- Handle: Padauk wood + black buffalo-horn ferrule, ambidextrous
- Finish: Satin/mirror hybrid with fine micro-texture for food release
- Use: Vegetables, herbs, aromatics, and boneless proteins (no bone chopping)
- Care: add wash, wipe dry; Hon as needed; stainless, not stain proof
- Quality Control: 12 Processes of Manufacturing and Quality Control
- Includes: Chinese Cleaver 7”
Why you’ll love it
- Real performance steel: 9Cr18MoV stainless core— blade exhibits high hardness, anti-corrosion properties, and wear resistance, maintaining durable sharpness.
- Built right: A 3-layer san-mai construction with SUS410 stainless steel cladding adds toughness and stain resistance without adding weight.
- Heat-treat that matters: Vacuum + deep-cooling (sub-zero) processing targets HRC 59 ± 1, stabilizing the microstructure so the edge stays keener, longer.
- Cutting feel: Thin stock (~2.4 mm spine) and a crisp ~15° per side V-edge for effortless push-cuts and fine slicing.
- Comfort & control: Ergonomic, “octagonal inspired” padauk handle with smooth choil/spine transitions.
- Kitchen-ready: Stainless steel convenience and food-release finish; hand wash and wipe dry. (Not a bone cleaver.)
Steel & Heat-Treat
The best Chinese cleaver is steel + process. The 9Cr18MoV core brings the chemistry for stainless performance; the vacuum deep-cooling heat-treat locks in that performance—minimizing retained austenite and delivering the hardness/toughness balance you feel on the board.
SUS410 cladding—a martensitic stainless steel used in high-quality knives—provides a polishable jacket with good corrosion resistance and reliable san-mai bonding, protecting the hard core and maintaining the blade's true shape during preparation.
7" vs 8": what you gain (and trade)
- 8" gains: Longer draw-cuts, bigger scoops from board to pan, more reach across large boards and bulky veg (cabbage, squash).
- Trade-offs: Slightly more blade to manage; a touch less nimble in tight spaces.
- Choose 7" if you have smaller boards/hands or prioritize maximum agility.
- Choose 8" if you batch-prep and want speed and board-to-pan efficiency.
Chinese Cleaver Sharpening Angle (What to use and why)
If you’re googling Chinese cleaver sharpening angle, aim for ~15° per side on this (our factory spec). For extra durability on dense veg, add a light micro-bevel at +2–3° per side. A true Chinese meat cleaver (bone chopper) typically has a thicker blade with a 20–25° per-side edge, but that’s a different tool.
Chinese Vegetable Cleaver vs. Chinese Meat Cleaver
This model is a Chinese vegetable cleaver—thin, fast, and precise for produce and boneless proteins. A Chinese meat cleaver is heavier and thicker for splitting small bones or cartilage. Choosing the right cleaver keeps your edge sharper and your prep safer.
Rob’s note: “I’ve had this 7-inch model in my kitchen for over six months. The surprise wasn’t just how easily it chews through veggies and meat—it’s the control you get with a blade this sharp & this tall.” — Rob, The Bamboo Guy
