Vintage Japanese Deba Knife 160mm Carbon Steel Magnolia Wood Handle 2264

Experience Sakai Craft - Vintage Japanese Deba Knife 160mm

A 160mm single-bevel deba forged in the Sakai tradition - the region that has produced Japan's finest single-bevel knives for over 600 years, evolving directly from the same forging culture that produced samurai swords. This carbon steel deba is a specialist fish butchery tool built to last generations.

The Specs

• Steel: Carbon steel
• Style: Deba (single-bevel, right-handed)
• Blade length: 160mm
• Handle: Magnolia wood (Ho wood) with ferrule
• Origin: Sakai, Osaka, Japan
• Certification: Nationally certified traditional craft product
• Condition: Vintage / pre-owned - one-of-a-kind piece

Heritage and Character

The deba is the traditional Japanese fish knife: thick-spined for breaking through bone, ground to a single-bevel edge fine enough for precision filleting. Sakai-forged debas are shaped by master artisans using time-honoured forging and sharpening techniques passed down through generations of craftspeople. At 160mm this deba sits between the compact 150mm format and the full-size 180mm - versatile enough for medium to large fish, precise enough for detailed work. Carbon steel at this geometry means a harder edge, finer grind, and more responsive sharpening than stainless - the professional's choice for serious fish work. A specialist tool built to a standard that modern production rarely matches.

Care and Maintenance

• Hand wash only - never dishwasher
• Dry immediately after use to prevent rust
• Single-bevel blade - sharpen on the flat (ura) face only using Japanese water stones
• No honing rod - resharpen on stones when needed (1000/3000 grit)
• Store in original box or on a magnetic rack - never loose in a drawer