This CLEAVER is very very sharp right out of the box !! I LOVE it ! I made a Roast Pork and when I sliced it, it glided through the meat like butter ! It is a HEAVY DUTY Quality Cleaver and a very beautiful shiny stainless steel one, that is Razor Sharp, and I can not say enough GREAT things about it..!! It has the weight of a Great Quality knife, and can be easily used for Big Jobs as well as Small Vegetable and Fruit Cutting Jobs !! I will be working towards getting a whole set !! I Highly Recommend !!