We have a great liking for knives that fall a bit out of the box in terms of shape of style. The Okeya ko-deba is such a knife. Deba knives are traditionally single-sided and used for filleting fish; the ko-deba is a smaller version of this. This double-edged version is a lot easier to use and maintain than single bevels. It also makes it applicable for both right- and left-handed users.
The Okeya ko-deba is a super fun little knife that is adept at many tasks around the kitchen. It is a great knife for filleting smaller fish or boning poultry. It also serves well as a replacement for a tall petty.
The core steel used here is Shirogami 2, or White Paper #2, hardened to about 60HRC. It is covered with a soft iron to add strength and reduce weight. The outer cladding is given a good-looking hairline. The grind is very well executed with a lovely blade path leading to the double bevel edge.
The Okeya ko-deba comes with a very basic ho-wood handle and plastic ferrule.Brand Name: Okeya
Blacksmith: Fujiwara san
Location: Miki City Japan
Construction: Hammer Forged, San Mai
Edge Grind: Double Bevel
Edge Steel: Shirogami #2
HRC: 60
Handle: Ho Wood Oval
Cladding: Stainless Steel
Weight: 2.8 oz/ 80g
Blade Length: 108mm
Overall Length: 232mm
Spine Thickness at Heel: 2.5mm
Blade Height at Heel: 38.7mm
The Okeya ko-deba is a super fun little knife that is adept at many tasks around the kitchen. It is a great knife for filleting smaller fish or boning poultry. It also serves well as a replacement for a tall petty.
The core steel used here is Shirogami 2, or White Paper #2, hardened to about 60HRC. It is covered with a soft iron to add strength and reduce weight. The outer cladding is given a good-looking hairline. The grind is very well executed with a lovely blade path leading to the double bevel edge.
The Okeya ko-deba comes with a very basic ho-wood handle and plastic ferrule.
Reviews
3 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval)
Daily driverPosted By: Hunter Hoffman
I’ve fallen completely in love with this one. I have both a petty/paring knife and a honesuki who were used to getting all the random kitchen utility work and are both feeling very lonely since this one arrived. I reach for it first for everything. Onions and garlic. Stone fruit. Heads of broccoli and cauliflower. Chicken thighs. And on and on and on. At first I thought it was ground too short and wedged/split too much but I got a thinner version from kohetsu and don’t like it as much as this original. Buy this knife!!
I’ve fallen completely in love with this one. I have both a petty/paring knife and a honesuki who were used to getting all the random kitchen utility work and are both feeling very lonely since this one arrived. I reach for it first for everything. Onions and garlic. Stone fruit. Heads of broccoli and cauliflower. Chicken thighs. And on and on and on. At first I thought it was ground too short and wedged/split too much but I got a thinner version from kohetsu and don’t like it as much as this original. Buy this knife!!
Pretty Darn Good for $48Posted By: Andrew
3 people found this review helpful
I bought this to see if I would like Wa handles and carbon steel. It seemed like an inexpensive way to test out the two. I mostly use it to finely slice garlic/shallots, and bone out chicken thighs. It's so light that it takes almost no effort to blaze through several cloves of garlic, but not so delicate that I'm worried about it when running up against chicken bones.
Bottom Line:
If this knife were lost/stolen, I'd absolutely buy another.
3 people found this review helpful
I bought this to see if I would like Wa handles and carbon steel. It seemed like an inexpensive way to test out the two. I mostly use it to finely slice garlic/shallots, and bone out chicken thighs. It's so light that it takes almost no effort to blaze through several cloves of garlic, but not so delicate that I'm worried about it when running up against chicken bones.
Bottom Line:
If this knife were lost/stolen, I'd absolutely buy another.
Well worth the pricePosted By: Bill Hobson - verified customer
2 people found this review helpful
I bought this Deba to see if I liked a small knife with knuckle clearance. Then maybe I would buy a fancier one if I liked it. I do like the size and shape. It gets used more and more. The pettys and paring knives are getting lonesome. the steel really gets sharp and holds an edge much longer than expected. Also it doesn't tarnish easily...a surprise. Since I am not using this to cut bone I wish someone would make a knife just like this with a thinner spine. As advertized the handle is utilitarian. I am so attached I will probably put a fancier handle on it and keep the knife.
2 people found this review helpful
I bought this Deba to see if I liked a small knife with knuckle clearance. Then maybe I would buy a fancier one if I liked it. I do like the size and shape. It gets used more and more. The pettys and paring knives are getting lonesome. the steel really gets sharp and holds an edge much longer than expected. Also it doesn't tarnish easily...a surprise. Since I am not using this to cut bone I wish someone would make a knife just like this with a thinner spine. As advertized the handle is utilitarian. I am so attached I will probably put a fancier handle on it and keep the knife.
