Is the Babish Clef Knife a chef's knife or a cleaver?

It is a hybrid: a 7.5-inch chef's profile with the tall, broad blade of a small cleaver. It slices and dices like a chef's knife and scoops like a cleaver, but it is not built for heavy bone chopping.

What steel is the blade made of?

High-carbon 1.4116 German stainless steel, forged in one piece with a full tang. It is a common, tough kitchen steel that takes a good edge and resists staining, though it still needs hand washing and honing.

Can I put it in the dishwasher?

No. Babish specifies hand wash only. Dishwasher heat and detergent can dull the edge and damage the handle over time.

How does it compare with an 8-inch chef's knife?

The blade is slightly shorter and taller, so it feels heavier and scoops better but is less nimble at the tip. Cooks who do fine work may prefer a standard 8-inch chef's knife; prep-heavy cooks often prefer this shape.

Is it good for chopping bone or frozen food?

No. It handles vegetables, boneless meat and herbs well, but the thin German-steel edge can chip on bone, frozen food or hard squash stems. Use a heavy cleaver for those jobs.

One 7.5-inch clef knife. No sheath or block is included, so plan separate storage.

Where can I buy the Babish High-Carbon 1.4116 German Steel 7.5" Clef Knife?

7 stores we checked sell it, including Kohl's, Bonanza, eBay, Nordstrom, Offy Store.

Babish High-Carbon 1.4116 German Steel 7.5" Clef Knife

Best price now

$32.98at Kohl'sChecked 14 h ago

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Kohl's

Babish High-Carbon 1.4116 German Steel 7.5" Clef Knife

Best price now

$32.98at Kohl'sChecked 14 h ago

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Kohl's

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Price facts

Last seen at $32.98 at Kohl's on Nov 9.

Our take on the Babish High-Carbon 1.4116 German Steel 7.5" Clef Knife

The Babish Clef Knife is a 7.5-inch hybrid that splits the difference between a chef's knife and a cleaver. It is forged from a single piece of high-carbon 1.4116 German steel with a full tang, double bolster and a seamless stainless handle, so it feels solid and balanced in hand. The tall, broad blade gives more knuckle clearance and scoops chopped food easily, which suits cooks who do a lot of prep and want one knife to cover slicing, dicing and light chopping. Against a standard 8-inch chef's knife it trades some tip agility for mass and board-to-pot scooping; against a real cleaver it is lighter and easier to control. Reviewers of the Babish line generally rate the steel and edge retention as good for the money, while noting that German stainless needs honing and that hand washing is required.

Best forHome cooks who want one knife for slicing, dicing and scoopingPeople moving up from a basic stamped chef's knifePrep-heavy cooks who like a tall blade and knuckle clearanceFans of the Babish cookware line building a matching set

Pros

Forged from a single piece of 1.4116 German steel with a full tang
Tall hybrid blade scoops chopped food straight to the pan
Double bolster and seamless handle give a secure, balanced grip
Holds a sharp edge well for a mid-range German steel knife
Covers chef's knife and light cleaver tasks in one tool

Cons

Hand wash only; dishwasher use dulls the edge and risks the handle
7.5-inch blade is shorter than a standard 8-inch chef's knife
Heavier and less nimble at the tip than a thin chef's knife
Not a substitute for a heavy cleaver on bone or tough joints
German stainless needs regular honing to stay sharp

Babish High-Carbon 1.4116 German Steel 7.5" Clef Knife prices at every store

Kohl'sNew
In stock
$32.98Checked 14 h ago
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Babish High-Carbon 1.4116 German Steel 7.5" Clef Knife price history

Lowest price we've seen: $26.99 on Nov 9. Tracked across 10 stores since Nov 9.

What reviewers say

Owners of Babish knives generally describe them as solid, well-balanced tools that outperform their class on edge retention and fit and finish. The clef shape draws praise for scooping and knuckle clearance, with some cooks finding it heavier and less precise at the tip than a classic chef's knife.

What people mention

BalancePraisedOwners say the full tang and double bolster make the knife feel balanced and steady.
Blade shapePraisedThe tall hybrid blade is liked for knuckle clearance and for scooping chopped food.
WeightMixedSome cooks find the extra mass helpful for chopping, others find it tiring and less precise at the tip.
Edge retentionPraisedReviewers report the German steel arrives sharp and keeps a usable edge through long prep.
MaintenanceCriticisedHand washing and regular honing are seen as extra work compared with easier-care knives.

Specifications

Blade Edge Type: Plain
Blade Length: 7.5 in
Blade Material: High-carbon 1.4 German Steel
Blade Shape: Hybrid chef knife meets cleaver design
Blade Tang: Full-tang
Blade Sharpness: Sharp
Blade Construction: Forged (from a single piece of high-carbon 1.4 German Steel)

Questions and answers

Is the Babish Clef Knife a chef's knife or a cleaver?: It is a hybrid: a 7.5-inch chef's profile with the tall, broad blade of a small cleaver. It slices and dices like a chef's knife and scoops like a cleaver, but it is not built for heavy bone chopping.
What steel is the blade made of?: High-carbon 1.4116 German stainless steel, forged in one piece with a full tang. It is a common, tough kitchen steel that takes a good edge and resists staining, though it still needs hand washing and honing.
Can I put it in the dishwasher?: No. Babish specifies hand wash only. Dishwasher heat and detergent can dull the edge and damage the handle over time.
How does it compare with an 8-inch chef's knife?: The blade is slightly shorter and taller, so it feels heavier and scoops better but is less nimble at the tip. Cooks who do fine work may prefer a standard 8-inch chef's knife; prep-heavy cooks often prefer this shape.
Is it good for chopping bone or frozen food?: No. It handles vegetables, boneless meat and herbs well, but the thin German-steel edge can chip on bone, frozen food or hard squash stems. Use a heavy cleaver for those jobs.
What is in the box?: One 7.5-inch clef knife. No sheath or block is included, so plan separate storage.
Where is the Babish High-Carbon 1.4116 German Steel 7.5" Clef Knife cheapest?: At Kohl's, for $32.98, as of our latest check.
Where can I buy the Babish High-Carbon 1.4116 German Steel 7.5" Clef Knife?: 7 stores we checked sell it, including Kohl's, Bonanza, eBay, Nordstrom, Offy Store.