## Common ground
All options describe non-electric, hand-held cutting tools made of metal, used for shaping or trimming materials.
## Options at a glance
**8205.51 – Hand tools of base metal**
- **Defining trait:** Designed primarily for manual labor tasks like cutting, shaping, or trimming (e.g., in farming, construction, or animal care).
- **Typical examples:** Screwdrivers, chisels, pliers, and farrier knives used for hoof trimming.
- **Best fit when:** The tool is a general-purpose hand tool used in skilled trades like farriery.
**8210.00 – Mechanical appliances under 10 kg**
- **Defining trait:** Intended as a mechanical device with moving parts, not just a cutting edge; often involves leverage or mechanism beyond simple blade use.
- **Typical examples:** Hand-powered drills, wrenches, or small presses.
- **Best fit when:** The tool has a mechanical function (e.g., spring-loaded, ratcheting) beyond basic cutting.
**8214.90 – Other cutlery not in normal knife shape**
- **Defining trait:** Designed for cutting tasks but shaped unusually (e.g., not blade-and-handle), often for kitchen or domestic use.
- **Typical examples:** Cleavers, meat choppers, or specialized kitchen knives with non-traditional forms.
- **Best fit when:** The tool resembles a kitchen implement and is used in food preparation.
## Key differences
| Feature | 8205.51 (Hand tools) | 8210.00 (Mechanical appliances) | 8214.90 (Other cutlery) |
|-----------------------|------------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------------|
| Primary use | Trade or industrial | Mechanized function | Kitchen/domestic |
| Shape | Standard or functional | Complex mechanism | Unusual, non-traditional |
| Weight | Any | ≤10 kg | Any |
## How to choose
- Is it used in farriery or animal care? → 8205.51
- Does it have moving parts (e.g., spring, ratchet)? → 8210.00
- Is it shaped like a kitchen cleaver or chopper? → 8214.90
## Overlaps & pitfalls
Farrier knives may resemble kitchen cleavers (overlap with 8214.90), but their use in animal hoof care and industrial context favors 8205.51. If the tool has a mechanical feature (e.g., spring-loaded blade), it could fit 8210.00. **No option takes priority by default**—choose based on the product’s MAIN function: trade use → 8205.51; kitchen use → 8214.90; mechanical action → 8210.00