In my search for my next cleaver, I kind of stumbled across this make. I would be interested if anyone has any info on these cleavers, and the history of Ho Ching Kee Lee imports to the U.S. They are obviously not available except for much older used items. What happened? How is the quality of the blades? How would they compare to CCK? I've done a search and really can't find much of anything. I would really appreciate any knowledge and info you could share. I've become fascinated with this line of cleavers.
Looking for info on Ho Ching Kee Lee cleavers
- Thread starter JWK1
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Dr. Knives
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https://www.etnet.com.hk/mobile/tc/lifestyle/eatandplay/oldshops/80739
http://archive.am730.com.hk/article-196201
https://coredassp.wordpress.com/2019/06/24/曾經街知巷聞的「何正岐利刀莊」/
This is what I could find in our old forum
https://md.hkgolden.com/view.aspx?message=4986379&page=1
I’ll pay them a visit. Apparently closed ten years ago, but it seems like there’s a different location that was open in 2022.
But there’s nothing magical about cleavers. They aren’t ground thin, they won’t cut as well as the knives people are used to here, they usually are slightly warped and unevenly ground. As long as you know
http://archive.am730.com.hk/article-196201
https://coredassp.wordpress.com/2019/06/24/曾經街知巷聞的「何正岐利刀莊」/
This is what I could find in our old forum
https://md.hkgolden.com/view.aspx?message=4986379&page=1
I’ll pay them a visit. Apparently closed ten years ago, but it seems like there’s a different location that was open in 2022.
But there’s nothing magical about cleavers. They aren’t ground thin, they won’t cut as well as the knives people are used to here, they usually are slightly warped and unevenly ground. As long as you know
Dr. Knives
Active Member
Xenif
Senior Member
Been I while since I posted here lol
The older lines of HCLK is actually pretty good, I like them a bit more than CCK 13xx, but they are a heavier breed. But even then, they arent anything thats very special. Again this kind of shop is a throw back to the days where there was a huge garment industry and just sharpening garment shears was enough business. That store sold everything from cleavers, to shears, nail clippers, all sorts of sharp/sharpened things.
The older lines of HCLK is actually pretty good, I like them a bit more than CCK 13xx, but they are a heavier breed. But even then, they arent anything thats very special. Again this kind of shop is a throw back to the days where there was a huge garment industry and just sharpening garment shears was enough business. That store sold everything from cleavers, to shears, nail clippers, all sorts of sharp/sharpened things.
I appreciate the info, although I can't read the Chinese posts. No, I guess there's nothing magical about cleavers, but I find that I sure do love using them. I reach for my cheap high carbon Shibazi over 90% of the time now. I've thinned it quite a bit and have it very sharp. The edge is very slightly warped, but nothing that affects it in use or sharpening. However, I just do now want to spend $140 or more on a full size CCK when it could very well be worse, so there's that.
Even if HCKL closed ten years ago, I think the import of cleavers to the U.S. stopped around '97 or just after. I see nothing on the used market ever that doesn't look at least 20 years old.
Thanks for telling me what you know about Ho Ching Kee Lee. If you do happen to pay them a visit, I sure would be interested in what you find there.
Thanks for posting that. So Ho Ching Kee Lee was more like a Sears & Roebuck for all things that cut? Would they have someone manufacture cleavers and then stamp their name on it, just like Sears? That's fascinating to me. For years I just assumed HCKL was some little factory that hand made steel cleavers, only to find they were some department store powerhouse that probably didn't manufacture anything themselves. I laugh at myself.
