Kermode 7" Hand Forged Serbian Chef Knife, Chef Cleaver, High Carbon Steel, Full Tang, Hardwood Handle

The Kermode is a 7" Serbian chef knife, hand forged from high carbon steel. Think of it as a chef knife and a cleaver in one blade: tall like a cleaver, curved like a chef knife, and made for cooks who would rather own one good knife than a block full of average ones.

On the Cutting Board

Rock it through herbs, mince garlic, dice an onion, and then slice a chicken breast or a pork chop with the same blade. The tall profile doubles as a scoop: tip the blade flat and carry everything to the pan. If you hate switching knives halfway through a recipe, this shape makes a lot of sense.

It is not built for bone. For ribs and joints, pick a real meat cleaver such as the 7.5" Hand Forged Butcher Cleaver. You can compare the Kermode with other blades in our chef knife collection and in cleavers.

A Gift That Gets Used

The Kermode suits the person who cooks dinner most nights and still uses the knife that came free with a block. It is a good wedding or housewarming gift for a couple setting up a kitchen, and a birthday gift for a home cook who wants one serious knife instead of five average ones. For more ideas, see our knife gifts.

Every Xcutlery blade is high carbon steel, hand forged one at a time in the Serbian style: thick stock, a lot of hammer work, and the forge finish left on the flats.

A Serbian chef knife is a hand forged, tall bladed knife with a curved edge, sitting somewhere between a cleaver and a chef knife. The Kermode is forged in that style. The blade is hammered out wide so there is plenty of knuckle clearance, and the edge is shaped with a steady curve so it rocks instead of only chopping. Its job is the cutting board, not the chopping block. The hardwood handle is pinned to a full tang.

Why high carbon steel

It takes a very fine edge and comes back quickly on a whetstone. The price of that edge is a little care. This steel is not a rust resistant alloy, so water left on the blade will mark it. Wash it, dry it, wipe on a light coat of oil, and it will be cutting long after the cutting board has given up.

Patina

With use the steel darkens to a grey or blue patina. That is normal for high carbon steel and it helps protect the blade. Red rust is a different thing, and it comes from a knife left wet.

• 7" hand forged high carbon steel blade
• Tall chef cleaver profile with a curved edge that rocks
• Wide blade that scoops food off the board
• Full tang with steel pins
• Hardwood handle
• Built for all purpose prep, vegetables and meat

Specifications

• Blade: 7" hand forged high carbon steel
• Profile: Tall chef's cleaver for rocking, chopping and scooping
• Construction: Full tang with steel pins
• Handle: Hardwood
• Use: All purpose prep, vegetables and meat

• Kermode 7" hand forged Serbian chef cleaver
• Lifetime warranty against defects in materials and craftsmanship

Each blade is forged by hand, so the forge texture, hammer marks and wood grain on yours will be its own.

Hand wash and dry it at once, then wipe a light coat of food safe oil on the blade. Keep it out of the dishwasher and never leave it soaking.

Every time you use it

• Hand wash it right after use and dry it straight away
• Wipe on a light coat of food safe oil before it goes away
• Cut on wood or plastic boards
• Touch up the edge on a whetstone when it starts to drag

Keep it away from

• The dishwasher, and a sink full of water overnight
• Glass, stone or metal cutting surfaces
• Prying, twisting or throwing

The full routine is in our high carbon steel knife care guide, and the edge work is in how to sharpen a meat cleaver.

Every Xcutlery knife is covered for life against defects in materials and craftsmanship. If a handle works loose from the tang, a pin comes free, or there is a flaw in the steel or the build that came from us, we repair or replace it free of charge.

It does not cover normal wear such as a dull edge, damage from misuse, or rust from the dishwasher or soaking. Slight differences in forge texture, hammer marks and wood grain are part of a handmade knife, not defects.

To make a claim, email sales@xcutlery.com (Australia: sales@xcutlery.com.au) with your order number and photos. Separately, you have 30 days from delivery to return an unused knife. Engraved and custom knives cannot be returned for a change of mind. Full terms are on the warranty page.

What is a Serbian chef knife?
A hand forged knife with a tall, wide blade and a curved edge, used like a chef knife for rocking cuts but shaped more like a cleaver. The Kermode is forged in that style.

Can it replace my chef knife?
For most home prep, yes. It rocks, chops, slices and scoops. It does not replace a paring knife for small work in the hand, or a cleaver for bone.

Does it come sharp?
Yes. It arrives with an edge that is ready for the cutting board.

How do I stop rust?
Dry it right after washing and keep a thin coat of food safe oil on the steel. High carbon steel only rusts when water is left on it.

You can rock it through herbs and then slice a chicken breast without changing knives. The Serbian chef knife explained guide covers the forging style behind it and how to use the tall blade.