Dexter-Russell Traditional 8-inch Chinese Chef's Knife, Rosewood

Dexter-Russell’s Chinese chef’s knives are the cleavers many cooks picture when they think of the shape, and the 8915 is the classic full-size Traditional version. Shoppers search for it by that model number and by the name Chinese cleaver.

Dexter describes it as a knife for cutting soft vegetables, fruits and meats. The tall blade does more than slice. It moves chopped ingredients from the board to the pan, and its flat side smashes garlic and ginger. It resembles a cleaver but is thinner than a meat cleaver, so keep it away from bone. The design has a long history in home kitchens and Chinese restaurant kitchens alike, and it rewards practice with fast, even slicing.

Choosing a Chinese Chef’s Knife

The Duo-Edge S5198GE adds hollows that keep slices from sticking, and the 7-inch S5197 is a narrower, lighter option. The table below compares every Dexter Chinese chef’s knife we carry.