Μαχαίρι κουζίνας - Χάλυβας, Ξύλο - Ιαπωνία - Παραδοσιακό ιαπωνικό μαχαίρι Yanagiba με λεπτή κόψη, 関孫六/矢, κατασκευασμένο με ευλάβεια (安来鋼)

● IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CERTAIN EU COUNTRIES - IOSS SHIPMENTS UNDER EUR 150

Due to recent changes in EU import procedures, temporary shipping restrictions may apply to IOSS shipments under EUR 150 to the following countries:

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Shipping availability may change depending on Japan Post and the destination country's postal procedures.

Please consider this possibility before placing a bid.

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Vintage Japanese Usuba & Yanagiba Knife Set – Seki Magoroku (関孫六) & “矢 謹製 / 安来鋼 (Yasuki Steel)” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

Offered here is an attractive pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining two distinctive traditional Japanese blade forms: a broad, rectangular Usuba vegetable knife and a long, slender Yanagiba sashimi knife.

Both knives retain Japanese inscriptions and traditional wooden Wa handles, representing two different aspects of Japan's long-established culinary knife tradition.

The Usuba on the left bears the well-known “関孫六” (Seki Magoroku) name on its blade, with the same name branded into its wooden handle.

The Yanagiba on the right bears the inscription “矢 謹製”, while the reverse side is marked “安来鋼” (Yasuki Steel), a particularly interesting feature associated with Japan's traditional cutlery steels.

The combination of surviving Japanese inscriptions, contrasting blade profiles, traditional wooden handles and authentic signs of previous use gives this pair considerable vintage character.

1. Usuba Knife – Seki Magoroku (関孫六)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Usuba, characterized by its broad, tall blade and relatively straight cutting edge.

Usuba knives are traditionally associated with precise vegetable preparation in Japanese cuisine, including peeling, thin slicing, katsuramuki (rotary peeling) and decorative cutting techniques.

The blade bears the inscription:

関孫六 — Seki Magoroku

The traditional wooden Wa handle also retains a branded marking reading:

関孫六 — Seki Magoroku

The presence of the same name on both the blade and wooden handle is an especially attractive feature of this knife.

Seki Magoroku is a recognized Japanese cutlery brand associated with the historic blade-making traditions of Seki, Gifu Prefecture, a region famous for its long history of Japanese sword and knife production.

The knife is fitted with a traditional wooden handle and a metal ferrule, both showing signs of age and previous use.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: 30 cm

Blade length: 17 cm

Maximum blade width: 4.5 cm

2. Yanagiba Knife – “矢 謹製” / Yasuki Steel (安来鋼)

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, distinguished by its long, narrow blade and pointed tip.

Yanagiba knives are traditionally used for preparing sashimi and sushi. Their elongated blades are designed to allow smooth, continuous drawing cuts through fish, helping produce clean and precise slices.

The blade bears the Japanese inscription:

矢 謹製

The reverse side carries the additional marking:

安来鋼 — Yasuki Steel

The “安来鋼” (Yasuki Steel) marking is a particularly noteworthy feature.

Yasuki Steel is a well-known name associated with Japanese specialty steels used in traditional cutlery and edged tools. The name derives from Yasugi in Shimane Prefecture, an area with a long history of iron and steel production.

Yasuki Steel has been used in various Japanese cutting tools and knives and is appreciated in traditional Japanese cutlery manufacturing.

The surviving “安来鋼” inscription adds considerable interest to this vintage Yanagiba.

However, the inscription alone does not establish the precise steel grade or composition of this particular knife. No unsupported claim is made regarding whether it is White Paper Steel, Blue Paper Steel or another specific grade.

The knife is fitted with a traditional wooden Wa handle and a dark ferrule.

Its long, slender blade displays visible traces of age and previous use, including oxidation, scratches and wear, giving it the distinctive appearance of an older Japanese working knife.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: 35 cm

Blade length: 22 cm

Maximum blade width: 2.8 cm

Please note: All dimensions are approximate estimates based on the measuring tape visible in the photograph. Slight differences from actual measurements should be expected.

Two Traditional Japanese Knife Forms with Distinctive Historical Markings

One of the strongest features of this lot is the contrast between the broad Usuba and the elegant, slender Yanagiba.

The approximately 17 cm Usuba represents the traditional Japanese vegetable-knife form, while the approximately 22 cm Yanagiba represents the classic Japanese sashimi-knife form.

Of particular interest are the surviving markings:

Usuba Knife

Blade inscription: 関孫六 (Seki Magoroku)

Wooden handle branding: 関孫六 (Seki Magoroku)

Yanagiba Knife

Blade inscription: 矢 謹製

Reverse blade inscription: 安来鋼 (Yasuki Steel)

The combination of the Seki Magoroku name, the Yasuki Steel marking, traditional Wa handles and two specialized blade forms makes this an interesting pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives.

Rather than being cosmetically restored to conceal their age, both knives retain visible traces accumulated through years of previous use.

These characteristics contribute to their appeal as vintage Japanese culinary tools and potential restoration projects.

Condition

These are vintage, pre-owned Japanese kitchen knives and show clear signs of age and previous use.

Their condition includes:

Age-related dirt and staining

Rust and oxidation

Scratches, rubbing marks and scuffs on the blades

Wear from age and previous use

Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges

Chipping or damage to the blade tips

Dirt and scratches around the ferrules

Dents and misalignment around the ferrule areas

Dirt and signs of previous use on the wooden handles

Other age-related and use-related imperfections

The knives are offered in their present vintage condition, without full cleaning, polishing, restoration or professional sharpening.

Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding.

The photographs form an essential part of the description and show the actual condition of the blades, cutting edges, tips, ferrules, wooden handles, inscriptions and branded markings.

These are vintage working knives rather than fully restored or maintenance-free modern kitchen knives.

Depending on their condition and intended use, cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, adjustment or repair of the ferrule and handle areas, and other restoration work may be required before practical use.

Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the vintage condition, including dirt, rust, scratches, wear, edge chipping, tip damage, ferrule dents and misalignment, and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning, sharpening and repair/restoration yourself.

An Appealing Pair for Collectors and Restoration Enthusiasts

With the Seki Magoroku (関孫六) Usuba, retaining its matching handle branding, and the “矢 謹製 / 安来鋼 (Yasuki Steel)” Yanagiba, this set offers an appealing combination of traditional Japanese knife forms and surviving inscriptions.

An interesting pair for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, and admirers of traditional Japanese culinary tools.

■ IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING

● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK,UNITED KINGDOM,UNITED STATES (USA)

● bidding and payment
please do not place a bid if you do not intend to complete the purchase and make payment. by placing a bid, you confirm full intention to complete payment if you win. non-paying bidders cause serious delays. if payment is not completed after reminders from catawiki, the order may be cancelled under catawiki policy.

● condition of the item
all items are vintage, antique, or pre-owned unless stated otherwise. signs of age, wear, scratches, stains, rust, oxidation, patina, repairs, sharpening marks, and other imperfections should be expected.
please carefully examine all photos before bidding. photos form an important part of the description.
please also understand that some defects or imperfections may not be visible in photographs. hidden or non-visible flaws may exist.
in addition, the condition of the item may change during transport due to vibration, impact, temperature, humidity, or handling.
therefore, items are sold strictly for buyers who have knowledge and ability to perform cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair if necessary. this lot is not suitable for buyers expecting fully restored or ready-to-use items without maintenance.
all measurements are approximate.

● important notice regarding traditional japanese knife handles
traditional japanese kitchen knives (wa-bocho) use replaceable wooden handles. handles are consumable parts and may require repair or replacement due to age, drying, shrinkage, cracking, looseness, or transport stress. replacement parts are not included.

● shipping restrictions - knives
due to uk law, we do not ship knives to the united kingdom. due to strict regulations, we also do not ship knives to denmark. shipments to other countries may also be restricted depending on local laws. bids from restricted countries will be cancelled.

● international shipping - customs
import rules for knives vary by country. buyer confirms legality of import. seller ships from japan with accurate customs declarations. customs delays, inspections, confiscations, taxes, or import issues are outside seller control.

● countries we do not ship to
We do not ship to the United States at this time due to ongoing international shipping restrictions.
Shipping service to the United States remains temporarily suspended and we are currently unable to accept orders with US delivery addresses.
We also temporarily do not ship to Portugal due to logistics instability.
Bids from these countries will be cancelled.

● international situation - shipping limitations
due to global conditions, sanctions, transport restrictions, or postal issues, shipping may become impossible to certain countries. in such cases, orders may be cancelled.

● important notice for italy
delivery to italy may take one month or longer due to customs and postal delays. please bid only if you accept this.

● no combined shipping
each item will be shipped separately even if multiple items are purchased.

● shipping method and delivery time
all items are shipped from japan via japan post. estimated delivery time is 3?4 weeks. delivery time is not guaranteed.

● import duties and taxes (EU buyers)
import duties, VAT, and other taxes are not included. buyer is responsible for all charges.

● customs contact and buyer responsibility
buyer must respond to customs requests promptly. failure may result in delay, return, confiscation, or destruction of parcel.

● returned parcels
if returned due to customs refusal or non-response, reshipping requires double shipping cost.

● force majeure
seller is not responsible for delays or failures caused by war, sanctions, disasters, postal suspension, or other force majeure events.

● agreement
by placing a bid, you confirm you have read and accepted all conditions and understand the item may contain non-visible defects and may require cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair.