CKTG Cleaver Saya

A saya is the traditional Japanese wooden blade scabbard - used to protect the edge during storage and transport, and to keep the knife from damaging other items in a drawer or bag. CKTG sayas are made from magnolia wood, the traditional material for Japanese knife storage: lightweight, slightly soft so it does not dull the edge on contact, and naturally moisture-absorbing. Each saya comes with a tapered black pin that slots through the spine to keep the blade seated securely.

Fit is the critical detail with sayas. Japanese blacksmiths work by hand and do not produce knives to a standardized dimension - two nakiris from two different makers, or even from the same maker in different batches, can vary meaningfully in blade height, spine thickness, and profile. At CKTG we adjust sayas by hand for each knife: filing the interior, repositioning the pin hole, doing whatever is needed to get a proper fit. The best way to ensure a good fit is to purchase the saya at the same time as the knife, so we can use your actual knife as the template. If you are buying a saya separately, email us first or note the exact knife in the Comments section of your cart and we will confirm compatibility before shipping. We only sell sayas for knives we carry - we cannot reliably guarantee fit for knives purchased elsewhere. If no saya is shown on a knife page, we do not have one that fits; a felt blade guard is the recommended alternative in that case.

This saya is sized for Chinese-style cleavers in the CKTG lineup. The cleaver saya is the largest we carry - sized for the tall, wide blade of the Chinese chef knife format. Cleaver dimensions are more consistent than single-bevel Japanese knives, but spine thickness still varies enough to warrant buying with the knife when possible.

What Customers Are Saying: Fifteen reviewers confirm good fit. Described as a must-have for cleaver owners - protects the large blade during storage and transport and fits multiple cleaver models in the CKTG lineup.

Care Instructions: Do not store a wet or damp knife in a saya - magnolia wood absorbs moisture and a damp environment can promote rust on carbon steel blades and cause the wood to swell, affecting fit. Wipe the blade dry before inserting. Air the saya out periodically. If the fit becomes tight, allow both knife and saya to dry fully before use.

• Material: Magnolia Wood
• Includes: Tapered Black Pin
• Fit: Hand-adjusted at CKTG for each knife
• Note: Purchase with knife for best fit. Email us to confirm compatibility if ordering separately.