Sakai White #2 Deba 165mm

We are very happy to be able to offer you these fine knives made exclusively for the Richmond brand. We commissioned a small blacksmith shop in Sakai City to fabricate these classic Japanese knives out of the popular Shirogami White #2 steel. There is an iron cladding placed over the core #2 steel so these knives are reactive. They have hardened the core steel to 60-61 Rockwell.



This is a classic Deba. A heavy thick blade originally intended as a fish filleting knife. It can also serve as a poultry butcher’s knife. The deba bōchō first appeared during the Edo period in Sakai. It is designed to behead and fillet fish. Its thickness, and obtuse angle on the back of the heel allow it to cut off the heads of fish without damage. The rest of the blade is then used to ride against the fish bones, separating the fillet.

This is a knife with some heft to it. It measures a thick 8mm at the heel. It has a single bevel set for right hand users. There is a very slight concave grind to the back side and the front features a nice primary bevel with small micro bevel on edge. The Richmond Deba has a D shaped Ho wood handle with buffalo horn ferrule. It comes with a matching saya.

Weight: 9.0 ounces

Blade Length: 175 mm (7")

Overall Length: 310 mm (12.25")

Thickness at Heel: 7.2 mm

Blade Height: 51.0 mm