Antique Butchers Cleaver by Edward Elwell (Wednesbury) c1830-50. Retro hotsell Chef/Cook/Butcher/Kitchen Decor. Antique Butchery Tools/Meat Cleaver.

This wonderful butcher or cooks cleaver was made by Edward Elwell at the Wednesbury Forge, Staffordshire & shows the early Elwell script & wedge trade mark dating it to before 1850.

The cleaver is hand forged from 5mm carbon tool steel of the pre stainless days & pierced with a convenient hook hole. It has a full length tang with elm wood scales, steel rivets & brass washers.
The head of the blade is also honed for cutting, useful when butchering large carcasses.

36cm or about 14” long overall with a 20cm cutting edge. Hefty & well balanced 725g weight.

The condition is superb for its age with a little expected surface marking, but no hammer burr, rust, blade chips or notable faults.

I have wiped it with vegetable oil to avoid corrosion & left it in its fairly blunt state for shipping, but it will hone to razor sharpness pretty quickly!

Still perfectly usable or the ideal display piece for a country or farm kitchen, butchers shop or as a film or theatre prop. Very rare to find script trade marked Elwell pieces.

History. There is evidence for a water wheel powered forge on the Wednesbury site on the banks of the River Tame since the 1590s.
Elwell established his business there in 1817 & eventually had 5 water hotsell wheels & later, several steam engines. In 1904, they converted to water turbines & in the 1950s adopted the Spearwell Tools name for their products.

Shipping is Tracked/Insured only. Please refer to the listed rates. For sale to responsible adults age over 21 only. Photo ID proof of age will be required.

Archive photos curtesy of Grace's Guide, with many thanks.