Description

Tsukasa Shiro Deba 180 mm is a particularly thick blade, used in Japan for cutting fish, but also for certain poultry. The thickness of its blade makes it possible to cut bones and cartilage without the risk of damaging the blade.

History and curiosity

Tsukasa Tokaji is an exceptionally skilled blacksmith from the Japanese city of Kōchi. He devoted himself to the art of knife making under the mentorship of the famous blacksmith Tadayoshi Tokaji. Tsukasa crafted his knives from Shirogami carbon steel and laminated with soft iron. This combination guarantees exceptional blade durability and resistance.

The knife has a kurouchi finish, which gives it a unique rustic look, each blade in the series is individually handcrafted. You may notice some minor blemishes or scratches. However, these are only signs of the handcrafting process and do not affect the overall quality of the knife.

The blade

The Deba is used to lift whole fish, usually with a single grind, it is increasingly common to find them with a double grind, like this one, due to western influence.

Shirogami #1 is a traditional high carbon steel. Due to its carbon content, it can achieve a hardness of over 62 HRC, meaning blades forged from it will have excellent edge retention. It is renowned for its exceptional sharpness, durability and ability to hold a sharp thread.

The handle

Made entirely by hand, the handle is made of dyed and stabilized burl maple, with a resin spacer.

Technical sheet

Blacksmith: Tsukasa Tokaji

Steel: Shirogami #1 with soft iron coating

Finish: Kurouchi

Hardness: 62 HRC

Length: 18cm

Heel Thickness: 9mm

Thickness at the tip: 3.7 mm

Blade height: 6 cm

Weight: 359 g