Abstract: An apparatus for deboning a piece of meat having an elongate bone portion, such as a loin piece provided with a spine portion, comprises an elongate support mounted on a frame for receiving the loin its spine portion being substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis defined by the support, and a plurality of press devices mounted on the frame for maintaining the piece of meat in a predetermined cutting position on the support. A first embodiment makes use of a cutting tool including an elongate shearing knife having a base portion pivotally mounted on the frame and an inwardly arcuate section defining a longitudinally extending cutting edge.