The Deba was designed in Japan for cleaning fish. This design is the exact opposite of western filet knife, which is narrow, thin and flexible. The Deba is wide, thick and stiff – not to mention heavy.

I made a Deba just because I didn’t have one and I was spending a week fishing with the family. While it might be great on tuna, it’s just too much bulk for smaller fish like bass. So, it didn’t get used. However, being too pretty to just leave in the boat, I put it in the kitchen.

Long story short, I love this thing. It’s a beast. Heavy as all get out and insanely sharp. It will make a tomato slice under its own weight and a gentle pull.

In most Japanese kitchens you’ll find a Deba. Which seems weird, because it was designed for such a specialized purpose. However, it’s more versatile than you’d think.