Foster Bros Meat Cleaver Value Guide

This Foster Bros meat cleaver is a heavy-duty relic of American industrial cutlery, manufactured in Fulton, New York between 1920 and 1940. Highly collectible for its rare solid brass handle and high-carbon steel construction, it represents the premium commercial grade tools used in early 20th-century slaughterhouses.

What Is Foster Bros Meat Cleaver Worth?

The typical price range for Foster Bros Meat Cleaver is $140 - $155 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence of the original brass handle significantly increases value over common wooden-handled models.
• The clarity and depth of the Foster Bros. manufacturer stamp on the blade face.
• Overall condition of the high-carbon steel, specifically the lack of deep pitting or excessive sharpening wear.
• Market demand for Fulton, NY manufactured cutlery, currently valued in the $140-$155 range for well-preserved specimens.

How to Identify Foster Bros Meat Cleaver?

• Look for the distinct Foster Bros. maker's mark stamped into the high-carbon steel blade.
• Verify the solid brass handle construction, which was a premium sanitary alternative to the standard wood handles of the era.
• Check for the presence of copper rivets or fittings used to secure the heavy blade to the handle assembly.
• Confirm the weight and balance, as authentic Foster Bros. tools are significantly heavier than modern household replicas.

History of Foster Bros Meat Cleaver

Foster Bros. was founded in 1871 in Fulton, New York, and became one of the most prominent manufacturers of cutlery and butcher tools in America. Their cleavers were renowned for their weight and durability, often used in commercial slaughterhouses and neighborhood butcher shops. The brass handle on this specific model was a premium feature, offering better sanitation and longevity compared to traditional wood handles.