Best Deba Knife Reviews

There are so many different kinds and brands of knives, and choosing the right one for your kitchen can be a challenge. Some might want specific knives for individual tasks, whereas others might prefer a single workhorse that can do everything.

The deba knife excels at slicing fish with great accuracy, and it can also be used for meat, veggies, herbs, and more. It is truly a ‘Jack of all trades .’ If you have a good deba knife, it will last a lifetime.

However, many brands manufacture deba knives, and not all of them are good. To help you make a choice between all of the deba knives, we will closely look at the five best on the market. So, let’s get started and help you find the best deba knife for your purposes.

Our Top 5 Picks

Best Deba Knife Reviews

1. Yoshihiro Hongasumi Blue Steel Deba Knife

As you can tell by the name, this deba knife is for filleting fish. The shape and the wide, heavy blade that comes to a very fine and sharp tip are ideal for breaking down fish. The point is sharp and precise enough to let you filet fish with great precision. The rear of the blade is hard and heavy enough to chop through fish bones, cartilage, and fish heads.

It might not be a lightweight knife, but sometimes you need a bit of heft to get the job done. However, keep in mind that although the Yoshihiro Hongasumi Deba Fish Fillet Knife is great for small fish bones, it should not be used for other bones (beef, pork, etc.), especially not for anything hard and frozen. 

That said, the Yoshihiro Hongasumi Deba Fish Fillet Knife is made with high-quality #2 blue steel. In addition, it is forged with iron using a highly refined forging process that has resulted in a tough and durable blade that is flexible enough to deal with fish.

The blade measures 64 on the Rockwell hardness scale, which means it is very hard and features excellent edge retention. In addition, the Yoshihiro Hongasumi Deba Fish Fillet Knife features a unique design so that it does not damage the texture of the food being cut.

One of the other things that stands out about the Yoshihiro Hongasumi Deba Fish Fillet Knife is its octagonal handle. This is a very traditional handle style, and it is very good-looking. But, more than looks, it’s also very easy to hold due to the shape. In addition, the handle is made of natural wood, so you know that it’s durable.

It’s also worth noting that this is a full tang knife, which provides excellent balance. The only downside is that the steel used is not totally rustproof, and the handle is not 100% waterproof, so just don’t leave it wet for too long. Other than that, this 7-inch deba knife is a true workhorse in the kitchen.

Major Features

• Place of construction: Japan
• Hardness Rockwell C scale: 63-64
• The material of the handle: Shitan Rosewood
• The material of the blade: Blue Steel #2
• Stain-resistant: No
• Edge angle: Single-edged
• The shape of the handle: Octagonal 

2. Yoshihiro Shiroko Deba Chef’s Knife 

This deba knife is similar to the one we just reviewed, and it also comes from the same brand. However, it has some notable differences worth mentioning, particularly in the blade material and the handle design. The handle is made from magnolia wood, which is beautiful and strong.

Moreover, the handle is hand-crafted and affixed to the tang and blade with a water buffalo horn. Unlike the previous knife’s handle, which was octagonal, this one is rounded, so it doesn’t provide quite the same gripping abilities, but that said, some people don’t like edged handles, as they may be uncomfortable. On the other hand, rounded handles like this one are pretty comfortable to use.

On a side note, you can choose between a 6.5-inch and a 7-inch blade for the one that suits you best. As with the previous deba knife, this one also features a very fine and sharp tip that is ideal for precisely breaking down fish. However, the rear of the blade is much thicker and heavier, making it suitable for chopping through fish cartilage and bones. However, although you can use this knife for basic cooking purposes, it’s not designed to cut through thick bones or frozen chunks.

The high carbon steel blade on this Yoshihiro Shiroko High Carbon Steel Kasumi Deba Japanese Fillet Chef’s Knife may not be the most rust-resistant in the world, but it is very hard and durable, with a Rockwell hardness rating of 63. It’s a durable knife that also has excellent edge retention for long-term use. Furthermore, it is a full tang knife that not only helps with durability and balance as well. You also get a wooden Saya cover with your purchase.

Major Features

• Weight: 1.75 pounds 
• Type: Deba Fillet 
• Blade length: 7 inches 
• Steel type: Shiroko
• Edge angle: Single-edged
• Hardness Rockwell C scale: 62-63 
• Saya cover: yes

3. DALSTRONG Deba Knife

Deba knives are single bevel knives, which means they are used either by a left- or right-handed person; these are not ambidextrous knives. Everything we have looked at so far has been for right-handed people, and now we thought we would add a left-handed deba knife to our list for all of you lefties. It is also worth noting that the FUJI CUTLERY Narihira #9000 Deba Knife is one of the most affordable knives on our list.

This budget-friendly deba knife might not be the best in terms of quality or functionality, but comparatively speaking, based on the price, there is really nothing to complain about.

For its low price, it’s more than good enough for home use. It may not be a knife that you would use 10 hours per day in a professional kitchen, but it’s more than good enough for home use, especially for fileting and breaking down fish, chicken, and chopping herbs.

This knife has a 5.9-inch stainless steel blade that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. In addition, it is pretty durable and has good edge retention. The FUJI CUTLERY Narihira #9000 Deba Knife is full tang, something we usually wouldn’t expect for such a low price. The tang extends down through the polypropylene handle, allowing for outstanding balance. The handle may be plastic, but it is durable enough to last for some time; it’s comfortable to hold and won’t rust or absorb water.

Major Features

• Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Blade material: High Carbon Stainless Steel
• Handle material: Wood
• Length: 6 inches
• Bevel Type: Single Bevel
• Handle: Octagonal shaped 
• Warranty: Lifetime Warranty against defect

4. Kai 6715D Wasabi Black Deba Knife

This is another very affordable deba knife. Although not as inexpensive as the one reviewed above, it is made of slightly better materials. First, this knife comes with a 6-inch blade, perfect for a deba knife. Second, it’s short enough to be maneuverable yet long enough to break down most fish with ease.

Of course, due to the nature of this blade, it is best used for breaking down and filleting fish. Fileting fish with accuracy is easy, thanks to the sharp and fine point. In addition, the hefty backside helps smash through fish heads and bones. That said, keep in mind that this is not a butcher’s knife, so don’t try smashing through other bones with it.

This is a right-handed deba knife, which means that it has a single bevel. The Kai Wasabi Black Deba Knife is made with 1K6 high carbon stainless steel, which has excellent hardness, durability, and edge retention, and it’s relatively resistant to corrosion; it’s not 100% rustproof, but pretty close.

The blade itself is pretty hard, although nothing like the first two deba knives we reviewed. Although this knife could be used for daily professional applications, this more budget-friendly model is best for home use. However, it’s tough enough to handle some heavy use and big-time punishment.

The other thing worth mentioning is that the Kai Wasabi Black Deba Knife has a D-shaped resin-impregnated PakkaWood handle. This means you get a comfortable and durable handle that provides good balance and can get wet without soaking up water.

Major Features

• Weight: 8 ounces 
• Length: 6 inches 
• Place of construction: Seki, Japan
• The material of blade: High Carbon Stainless Steel
• Handle: D-shaped ergonomically designed hardwood 
• Finish: Hammered
• Cutting edge: 16 degree

5. Mercer Culinary Asian Collection Deba Knife Review

This deba knife from Mercer Culinary features a 4-inch blade, although there is also a 6-inch option available. This knife is ideal for boning, filleting, and breaking down relatively small fish.

The front is sharp and fine enough to allow for precise fish filleting, and the rear is heavy enough to cut through small fish bones and thin cartilage. It’s not quite big or heavy enough for large fish, but it works well for smaller specimens. In addition, it can be used as a paring knife or for chopping and mincing vegetables and herbs.

The metal used in the construction of this blade is high-carbon German no-stain steel, which is very hard and durable, yet also slightly flexible, plus it won’t rust, corrode, or discolor either. For such an affordable knife, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the blade. The edge retention on this knife, while not the best, is good enough so that you won’t have to sharpen it too often.

You can choose from a natural wood handle or a Santoprene™ nonslip handle. The wood looks better and is more durable, but the Santoprene™ is more ergonomic and comfortable to hold.

Major Features

• Weight: 8 ounces
• Length: 6 inches
• Manufacturer: Mercer Tool Corp. 
• Blade length: 4 inches 
• The material of blade: high-carbon German stainless steel 
• The material of handle: traditional wood

Things you Need to Consider Before Buying any Deba Knife

Let’s talk about some of the most essential factors you need to look for when buying a deba knife.

Length and Weight

First off, a deba knife blade should be between 6 and 8 inches in length. This ensures that it’s long enough to deal with most fish fileting jobs yet also small enough to remain maneuverable. In terms of weight, for a deba knife to function properly, it should have some heft to it.

Blade Shape

A deba knife should come to a very fine and thin point for easy and precise fish filleting, and the rear of the blade should be broad and heavy, thus allowing you to easily smash through fish bones and cartilage.

Blade Material

Although we aren’t going to list every type of steel, keep in mind that stainless steel is durable and rust-resistant but not quite as hard or strong as high-carbon steel. On the other hand, high-carbon steel is not very resistant to rusting or corrosion. So, if you are looking for quality and take good care of your knives, we recommend high-carbon steel. On a side note, you want a full tang knife to provide added durability and better balance.

Hardness

Look for a blade that measures 55 or more on the Rockwell hardness scale. Anything softer than that, and your knife won’t have good edge retention.

Handle Material

Generally speaking, handles will be made of wood or plastic (with a few exceptions). Wood looks much better and tends to be durable, usually comfortable too, but plastic handles are waterproof, so there is a bit of a tradeoff to think about.

FAQs on the Best Deba Knife

Can Deba Knives Cut Through Fish Bones?

Yes, in fact, this is one of the primary purposes of deba knives.

Can Deba Knives Cut Beef and Pork Bones?

No, deba knives are not strong enough to actually butcher an animal.

Are Deba Knives Double Bevel?

No, deba knives are single bevel, so you need a knife for your dominant hand.

Final Verdict

The bottom line is that if you are looking for the best deba knife, our top recommendation is the Yoshihiro Hongasumi Deba Fish Fillet Knife. It might be more expensive, but it’s durable, sharp, and ideal for home chefs and pros alike.