Forged in Solingen, Germany
Chinese / Cleaver Knives
A broad blade works differently from a chef's knife: the width carries food from the board to the pan, and the weight in the spine does much of the downward work so the hand does less. The Chinese Chai Dao is the lighter of the two shapes, thin enough to slice vegetables cleanly, while the cleaver is heavier through the spine for coarser work. Both are drop-forged in Solingen from a single bar of chrome-vanadium-molybdenum steel, ice-hardened and hand-sharpened across up to 55 manual operations.
The Chai Dao runs 6 inches in the Alpha, Alpha Olive and Alpha Pear series, joined by a 6.2-inch Franz Güde model in Damascus steel of more than 300 layers with a desert ironwood handle. The cleavers are all 7 inches and come in two weights, 10.5 and 14.1 ounces, across black Hostaform, olive wood and pear wood handles.
Before you buy
Good to know
Güde Shop USA is Güde’s brand representative in the United States. Every knife ships from the USA, with a US team you can reach by email.
Which line should I choose?
Every Güde line shares a blade drop-forged from one bar of steel in Solingen. What changes is the handle, the balance and the care: Alpha has dishwasher-safe black Hostaform, Alpha Olive, Pear and Barrel Oak put the same blade on wood, Kappa is all metal, and SYNCHROS drops the bolster. The line comparison sets them side by side.
Which Güde knives are dishwasher-safe?
The Alpha line with black Hostaform handles, the Universal line and the all-metal Kappa. Every wood and Micarta handle is hand-wash only: rinse, dry and put the knife away.
How fast do you ship?
Orders ship from the USA within 1 to 2 business days; orders placed after 1:00 pm ET start counting the next business day. Ground delivery usually takes 2 to 4 business days. Shipping is free on US orders of $69.95 or more. Shipping policy
What about returns and warranty?
You can return an item within 30 days of purchase, and every knife is covered by our Limited Lifetime Warranty. We prepay return postage when an item arrives damaged or incorrect. Returns and refunds
How do I keep the edge sharp?
Hone on a sharpening steel every few uses and sharpen on a whetstone when honing no longer brings the edge back. Cut on wood or plastic, never glass or stone. The care and sharpening guide walks through it.