So many cleavers are too heavy and rely on the weight to force the blade through whatever im cutting. This one relies on the quality of the blade. German high carbon steel is known for its resilience and edge retention and that holds true here. The blade and handle are nice and light so i can quickly chop all of my veggies and it stays sharp for a long time. Its also easy to resharpen which can be difficult for lower end heavier cleavers.