Quick Summary
- The hole is mainly for hanging the knife on a hook, nail or rack.
- It’s usually found on meat cleavers, often called butcher’s cleavers, not on slicing butcher knives.
- It is not a finger guard; you should never put a finger through it while cutting.
- Myths include saving weight, stopping meat sticking and giving leverage.
- Other knife holes include cheese-knife cut-outs, thumb holes on folding knives and lanyard holes.
If you’ve bought a meat cleaver, you’ve probably noticed a round hole near the top corner of the blade. When people ask why a butcher knife has a hole in it, this is usually the knife they mean.
The answer is simpler than many websites suggest.
The Main Reason: Hanging
A cleaver’s large, heavy blade doesn’t fit most knife blocks and is risky loose in a drawer. The hole lets you hang it on a hook, peg or rack, where it’s out of the way but easy to grab.
Butchers have long hung their cleavers from meat hooks above the work area. Men’s lifestyle site Gear Patrol’s look at why cleavers have a hole reaches the same conclusion and explains why the other theories don’t hold up.
Which Knives Have the Hole?
| Knife | Hole? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Western meat cleaver | Usually | For hanging on a hook or rack |
| Chinese vegetable cleaver (cai dao) | Rarely | Lighter and stored in a block or on a strip |
| Breaking knife or cimeter | No | Slim blade fits a block, strip or sheath |
| Granton-edge knife | No, it has dimples | Shallow scallops reduce sticking |
For more on the differences between these blades, read our guide to the different types of cleavers.
Is the Hole a Finger Guard?
No. Our older article described the hole as a “finger guard”, but that’s wrong and could be dangerous advice.
The hole sits near the spine at the front of the blade, far from the handle. Putting a finger through it while chopping would bring your hand close to the edge and into the path of the cut.
A real finger guard is the bolster or raised section between the handle and the blade, which stops your hand sliding forward.
Common Myths About the Hole
It Reduces Weight
The hole removes only a tiny amount of steel. A cleaver relies on its weight to chop through bone, so makers have no reason to lighten it.
It Stops Meat Sticking
The hole is near the spine, well above the part of the blade that touches food. It can’t stop slices clinging to the side.
It Gives Extra Leverage
You don’t need a hole to free a stuck cleaver. America’s Test Kitchen’s guide to using a meat cleaver suggests pressing down on the spine with your flat palm to finish a stuck cut.
Other Holes You’ll Find in Knives
| Hole | Where | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Hanging hole | Top corner of a cleaver | Storage on a hook or rack |
| Cheese-knife cut-outs | Across the blade | Less surface contact so soft cheese releases |
| Thumb hole | Blade of some folding knives | Opening the knife with one hand |
| Lanyard hole | End of the handle | Attaching a cord, strap or tag |
Granton or hollow-edge knives, such as many santokus, have shallow dimples rather than holes. These create small air pockets that help thin slices fall away from the blade.
Our older article called these holes “gullies” and linked them to julienne cutting, which isn’t accurate.
How to Store a Cleaver Safely
- Hang it on a sturdy hook or rail, blade facing the wall and out of reach of children.
- Use a magnetic strip rated for heavy knives.
- Use a blade guard if it goes in a drawer.
- Always dry it first to prevent rust.
Wherever you hang it, make sure it can’t be knocked off a hook by passing elbows or pans.
Is a Butcher Knife the Same as a Cleaver?
Not quite. A butcher knife, such as a breaking knife or cimeter, has a long, curved blade for slicing and trimming meat.
A meat cleaver has a heavy, rectangular blade for chopping through bone and joints. The general Wikipedia entry on cleavers covers the history and variations.
For technique, see how to use a meat cleaver and how to use a butcher knife.
Do You Need a Cleaver with a Hole?
Only if you plan to hang it. A cleaver without a hole works just as well and can live on a strong magnetic strip or in a dedicated block slot.
When buying, focus on weight, balance, handle comfort and steel quality instead.
Where Did the Idea of a Finger Guard Come From?
The confusion probably comes from how cleavers are shown in photos and videos. The hole is the most noticeable feature on the blade, so people assume it has a job during cutting.
Some folding knives really do use a hole for your thumb, and some kitchen knives have a finger groove near the handle. Neither applies to the hanging hole on a meat cleaver.
Safe Ways to Hang a Cleaver
If you want to use the hole, pick a spot away from the cooker, sink and busy walkways. Fix a strong hook or rail securely into the wall, not just into thin tiles.
Hang the cleaver with the edge facing the wall, so you reach for the handle rather than the blade. Make sure it’s well above the reach of children and can’t swing into other utensils.
Never hang a wet cleaver. Water trapped around the hole and along the spine is a common place for rust to start.
What If Your Butcher Knife Has a Hole in the Handle?
Some butcher and outdoor knives have a small hole at the end of the handle instead. This is a lanyard hole for a cord, a hanging hook or a colour-coded tag in professional kitchens.
It has nothing to do with how you hold the knife, and it’s safe to ignore if you don’t need it.
The Bottom Line
The hole in a meat cleaver is a practical storage feature, not a safety guard or a weight-saving trick. Use it to hang the cleaver, or simply store it another safe way.
Holes on Other Kitchen Tools
You’ll also see hanging holes on pizza wheels, ladles, spatulas and some heavy chopping knives. The reason is the same: they make tools easy to hang on a rail or hook.
When you clean a cleaver, wipe through the hole as well as along the blade. Food and moisture can collect around its rim.
Dry the hole thoroughly with a corner of the towel, especially on carbon steel cleavers, which rust quickly if left damp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do cleavers have a hole in them?
Mainly so they can hang on a hook or rack, since they don’t fit most knife blocks.
Is the hole in a cleaver a finger guard?
No, never put a finger through it while cutting.
What are the holes in cheese knives for?
They reduce contact with the blade so soft cheese doesn’t stick.
Do Chinese cleavers have a hole?
Most Chinese vegetable cleavers don’t; the hole is more common on heavy meat cleavers.
Does the hole make a cleaver lighter?
Only by a negligible amount; it isn’t there to save weight.
