A mainstay of professional Western kitchens, the Petty knife is a small general-purpose knife used for peeling, shaping, and slicing fruits and vegetables, chopping herbs, and making garnishes. The compact size and relatively narrow blade of the Petty knife mean that it is very nimble and controllable, thus it is ideal for making precise cuts. Compared to a Western-style handle, the lightweight traditional Japanese handle of the Wa Petty knife moves the balance point of the knife further towards the tip, which makes it feel even more nimble and precise.