The deba is the fish-breakdown knife of the Japanese kitchen - a heavy, single-bevel blade with a stout spine designed to fillet, bone, and portion fish with a combination of precision and authority that no Western knife achieves in the same way. This 180mm version is hammer-forged in Sakai from a Blue #2 carbon steel core with soft iron cladding and finished with hand engraving on the blade face. Single bevel, right-handed, with a saya included.
Weighing over 12 oz with a spine over 8mm wide at the heel, this is a serious, purposeful tool that rewards proper technique. Sakai is the dominant knife-making city in Japan, and the deba is one of the shapes where that 600-year tradition shows most clearly in the construction and geometry.
Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a fully reactive carbon steel. The exposed edge and soft iron cladding will develop a natural patina with use. Wipe and dry the blade immediately after use, avoid leaving acidic foods against the blade, and apply a light coat of camellia oil for longer term storage. Hand wash only. Use quality water stones suited to single bevel geometry when sharpening.Maker Location: Sakai, Japan
Construction: Hammer Forged, Traditional Grind
Orientation: Right-Handed, Single Bevel
Edge Steel: Aogami #2 (Blue #2)
Cladding: Soft Iron
Engraving: Hand Engraved
Handle: Ho Wood Oval
Ferrule: Buffalo Horn
Saya: Included
Weight: 12.2 oz (348 g)
Blade Length: 189 mm
Total Length: 333 mm
Spine Thickness at Heel: 8 mm
Blade Height: 55 mm
Weighing over 12 oz with a spine over 8mm wide at the heel, this is a serious, purposeful tool that rewards proper technique. Sakai is the dominant knife-making city in Japan, and the deba is one of the shapes where that 600-year tradition shows most clearly in the construction and geometry.
Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a fully reactive carbon steel. The exposed edge and soft iron cladding will develop a natural patina with use. Wipe and dry the blade immediately after use, avoid leaving acidic foods against the blade, and apply a light coat of camellia oil for longer term storage. Hand wash only. Use quality water stones suited to single bevel geometry when sharpening.
