Cleaver 180mm Apex Ultra with Copper & Wrought Iron Cladding
A masterfully crafted tool designed for chefs and culinary enthusiasts who seek the pinnacle of performance and aesthetics. This cleaver, with its substantial 180mm edge length, is engineered to handle a wide range of kitchen tasks, from chopping large cuts of meat to finely dicing vegetables. The blade, constructed with a 5-layer (Go Mai) technique, features waves of copper, Karol’s brutalist-inspired textures impressed upon ancient wrought iron, and a contemporary high-performance S grind geometry. The blacked-out steel, rich with contrast against the copper cladding, is an incredible piece of work.
Crafted from Apex Ultra steel, this cleaver boasts impressive toughness, superior edge retention, and sharpness. The spine, tapering from 3.6mm at the heel to 1.6mm near the tip, provides a robust backbone while maintaining a finely honed edge for precision cuts. The S grind enhances the blade's food release, allowing for effortless slicing through various food textures with minimal resistance. When cutting produce, this high-performance kitchen knife will retain the integrity of the food and therefore enhance its flavor.
Despite its substantial build, the cleaver's weight is only 293g, thanks to Karol’s exceptional work forging a fine taper onto the blade and the S grind, which removes mass. This results in reduced hand fatigue during prolonged use. The handle is a work of art, featuring a hidden tang construction made from stabilized Karelian Birch and accented with Karol’s signature textured bolster in copper. The aesthetics rest on a foundation of perfect balance, weight, and ergonomics. We are always thrilled to receive work from Karol; his craftsmanship is exceptional and continues to impress with this high-performance kitchen cleaver.
Product Specification
Blade Type: Cleaver
Overall length:
Edge Length: 180mm X 80mm
Spine Heel: 3.6mm
Spine Mid: 2.2mm
Spine Tip (20mm before): 1.6mm
Blade Height: 80mm
Weight: 293
Cutting Edge Steel: Apex Ultra
Stainless: No
HRC: 66+
Blade Construction: 5 Layer (Go Mai)
Blade Finish: Textured, Acid Etched (Forced Patina), and Matte Polish
Grind: S
Handle Construction: Hidden Tang
Handle Materials: Karelian Birch, Copper
Handedness: Ambidextrous
Saya, Hand Crafted Storage or Display Included: No
Shipping & Returns
Shipping
We process orders 5 days a week (Monday - Friday) and ship from our shop in Berlin, Germany. We ship with FedEx, UPS and Deutsche Post.
We are happy to offer free international shipping on a variety of orders depending on location and order value. You can check to see where things sit for you here.
Returns
At Modern Cooking we want our customers to be inspired and delighted by the products they purchase through our shop.
However, we understand that you may need to return products occasionally. If you are not entirely happy, you can return your purchase in its original condition within 14 days for a refund. Please email if you wish to return any goods.
In the unlikely event that you receive faulty goods or your order is damaged in transit, please contact us for instructions on how to return the goods as in this case we will meet the cost of return postage, though only if this is arranged through our authorised carriers. Any claim for refund or exchange resulting from faulty goods or goods damaged in transit must be raised within 5 business days.
All Modern Cooking logistics partners provide insurance in case of damage, but the coverage is only valid if we are notified within 5 business days. Please make sure to inspect your order immediately upon receipt to ensure that there is no damage.
Once we have the goods back, we will issue a full refund or send replacements where possible, as you prefer.
Product Care:
Cleaning: Clean by hand with warm water. Avoid wetting the handle when possible.
Sharpening: We advise using whetstones to sharpen your knives and a honing rod or steel to maintain the burr between sharpening sessions.
Reactive Steels: Reactive steels like Aogami Super, Apex Ultra or one of the many premium reactive German and Swedish steels are susceptible to rust if not properly cared for. In this case we advise that you keep the knife dry between uses and when storing the knife for longer periods wiping the knife blade with Tsubaki oil or another food safe oil is a wise choice. This will not stop a patina forming on the blade, but it will stop rust. A patina can be a beautiful personal feature on your knife and helps to stop rust forming. So, dry your knife regularly between uses, store in a dry place and apply some Tsubaki oil from time to time when storing for long periods.
A reference guide to steel types
Handle Care: If you have a knife with a non-stabilised wooden handle, you can apply Tsubaki oil or another food safe oil to your handle from time to time. Food safe wax can be applied to both stabilised and no-stabilised wooden handles. Never apply hot wax or oil as you risk warping or damaging the handle.
