Glestain 6.3-inch (160mm) Deba

A deba is the heavy Japanese knife for breaking down whole fish, and the 160mm size suits small and medium fish such as trout, mackerel and snapper. Glestain makes it in stainless steel, which spares you the rust that carbon steel debas invite around a wet fish station.

A stainless deba can be given a pronounced secondary bevel, which blunts the precise work the shape is meant for. The Glestain is ground close to a traditional single bevel, with only a small back bevel, so it keeps the acute angle and clean cut of a classic deba. The thick spine and weight let it split heads and work through the small bones of a fish.


Choosing a Deba Size

The Glestain deba also comes as a 200mm Deba and a 240mm Deba. For filleting flatfish and portioning, pair it with a flexible fillet knife or a sujihiki. Our guide to kitchen knife shapes explains the deba.

SKU: GLS216WK

Availability: Out of stock

$180.00

Details

Specifications

  • Blade length: 6.3 inches (160 mm)
  • Series: W Series
  • Overall length: 11.2 inches (285 mm)
  • Blade height: 1.9 inches (48 mm)
  • Blade thickness: 0.10 inch (2.6 mm)
  • Weight: 9.6 ounces (271 g)
  • Steel: Acuto 440, Glestain’s own molybdenum-vanadium stainless steel, given a sub-zero treatment during hardening
  • Hardness: 58 to 59 HRC
  • Edge geometry: asymmetrical, ground for the right hand, with nearly all of the bevel on the right face and a small back bevel on the left
  • Handle: Pakkawood
  • Maker: Honma Kagaku (Homma Science Co.), Niigata, Japan
  • Model number: 216WK (Knife Merchant item GLS216WK)

Comparing Glestain Boning, Fish and Butchery Knives

KnifeSeriesBladeBest suited to
KE Series 150mm HonesukiKE5.9 in. (150 mm)Poultry joints
KE Series 150mm Left-Handed HonesukiKE5.9 in. (150 mm)Poultry, left hand
Ice Handle 150mm HonesukiM5.9 in. (150 mm)Poultry, all-metal handle
KE Series 190mm GarasukiKE7.5 in. (190 mm)Larger birds, heavier boning
KE Series 190mm Left-Handed GarasukiKE7.5 in. (190 mm)Heavier boning, left hand
KE Series 220mm ScimitarKE8.7 in. (220 mm)Steaks and large cuts
160mm DebaW6.3 in. (160 mm)Small and medium fish
200mm DebaW7.9 in. (200 mm)Medium to large fish
240mm DebaW9.4 in. (240 mm)Large fish heads and collars
K Series 210mm Flexible Fillet KnifeK8.3 in. (210 mm)Flatfish and small fish
K Series 210mm Left-Handed Flexible Fillet KnifeK8.3 in. (210 mm)Fillets, left hand
K Series 250mm Flexible Fillet KnifeK9.8 in. (250 mm)Larger fillets, ham
W Series 210mm Flexible Fillet KnifeW8.3 in. (210 mm)Fillets and silver skin

The Glestain Series

SeriesBlade faceBolster and end capHandle
K SeriesDimpledBolster, no end capPakkawood
KE SeriesDimpledBolster and end cap; the heftiest Glestain knivesPakkawood
M Series (Ice Handle)DimpledAll-metal handleStainless steel, dimpled and textured
SO Series (Home Series)DimpledNo bolster, squared shouldersPlain Pakkawood
W SeriesSmooth, no dimplesVaries by shapePakkawood

Sharpening a Glestain Edge

One face of a Glestain blade drops almost straight from the spine, and the other tapers to the edge, so the two sides are sharpened at different angles. Work the primary face (the right side on this knife) at about 16 to 18 degrees until a burr forms along the full edge, then remove the burr from the left side at about 22 degrees with a few light passes. Sharpen on whetstones; a pull-through or electric sharpener grinds both sides alike and alters the geometry. Our article on sharpening Glestain and Masahiro knives explains the method in detail, and our video on sharpening compound bevel knives shows it on the stone.


Care

  • Wash by hand with warm water and mild soap, then dry the knife at once. Do not put it in a dishwasher.
  • Acuto 440 resists stains but is not immune to them; do not leave the blade wet or soaking.
  • Cut on wood or plastic boards, and keep the edge away from frozen food, hard shells and heavy bone.
  • Hone between sharpenings with the Glestain hexagonal ceramic honing rod, and store the knife in a guard, a block or a case.

Additional Info

Blade Length (Inches) 6.3 in.
Blade Length (mm) 160 mm
Blade Width (inches) No
Grind Asymmetrical/Compound
Steel Type Acuto 440
Rockwell Hardness 58/59
Stainless Yes
Handle Material Pakkawood
Spine Thickness (mm) 2.6
Brand Glestain
Country of Manufacture Japan
SKU GLS216WK
Manufacturer's Part Number 216WK
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price $0.00

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