Μαχαίρι κουζίνας - Χάλυβας, Ξύλο - Ιαπωνία - Παραδοσιακό ιαπωνικό μαχαίρι Yanagiba με λεπτή λάμα — 関孫六梅/羽印特撰

● 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:

- Austria
- Germany
- Finland
- France
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Portugal

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 Ume (関孫六 梅)” & “TRADE MARK / Feather Emblem / 特撰” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

Offered here is a distinctive pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining two classic Japanese blade forms: a broad Usuba vegetable knife and a long, elegant Yanagiba sashimi knife.

Both knives retain identifying Japanese markings and traditional wooden Wa handles with dark ferrules.

The Usuba on the left bears the inscription “関孫六 梅” (Seki Magoroku Ume), while the Yanagiba on the right features an interesting trademark inscription consisting of “TRADE MARK,” a feather-shaped emblem, and “特撰” (Special Selection).

The Yanagiba also retains an old label on its wooden handle reading “特製庖丁” (Specially Made Kitchen Knife).

These surviving inscriptions and labels, together with the contrasting blade shapes and visible traces of previous use, make this an appealing pair for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery and enthusiasts of traditional Japanese knife restoration.

1. Usuba Vegetable Knife – “Seki Magoroku Ume” (関孫六 梅)

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

This classic Japanese blade form is associated with vegetable preparation, including peeling, slicing, chopping and other precise cutting techniques.

The blade bears the inscription:

関孫六 梅

Seki Magoroku Ume

The Seki Magoroku name is associated with the historic blade-making traditions of Seki in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, a region renowned for its long history of sword and knife production.

The additional character “梅” (Ume) means plum blossom and forms part of the knife's distinctive inscription.

The blade has a broad, rectangular profile, with a slightly rounded upper corner. It retains visible traces of age, sharpening and previous use.

The knife is fitted with a traditional dark wooden Wa handle and a black ferrule, creating a classic Japanese appearance.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: 32 cm

Blade length: 18 cm

Maximum blade width: 4.7 cm

2. Yanagiba Sashimi Knife – “TRADE MARK / Feather Emblem / 特撰”

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, characterized by its long, slender blade and sharply pointed tip.

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

The blade bears an interesting combination of identifying marks:

TRADE MARK

Feather-shaped trademark emblem (羽印)

特撰 — Special Selection

The feather-shaped trademark emblem is a distinctive visual feature, giving this vintage knife an interesting identity beyond a conventional maker's inscription.

The Japanese wording “特撰” (Tokusen) translates approximately as Special Selection, a designation found on traditional Japanese cutlery.

These markings are presented as surviving inscriptions rather than as a guarantee of any particular steel grade, manufacturing method or current cutting performance.

The traditional wooden Wa handle also retains an old label reading:

特製庖丁

Specially Made Kitchen Knife

The survival of this label, together with the trademark inscription on the blade, is an attractive feature of the knife.

The Yanagiba has a slender, tapering blade, a traditional wooden handle and a black ferrule. Visible scratches, oxidation and wear contribute to its unmistakable vintage appearance.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: 36 cm

Blade length: 22 cm

Maximum blade width: 2.8 cm

All dimensions are approximate estimates derived from the measuring tape visible in the photograph. Minor differences from actual measurements should be expected.

Two Distinctive Traditional Japanese Knife Forms

This lot combines two contrasting types of traditional Japanese kitchen knives.

The approximately 18 cm Usuba has the broad, tall profile traditionally associated with vegetable preparation, while the approximately 22 cm Yanagiba has the long, narrow profile associated with sashimi and fish slicing.

Of particular interest are the surviving inscriptions and markings:

Usuba – Left

Blade inscription: 関孫六 梅

Romanized identification: Seki Magoroku Ume

Traditional wooden Wa handle with black ferrule

Yanagiba – Right

Blade inscription: TRADE MARK

Distinctive feather-shaped trademark emblem

Japanese inscription: 特撰 (Special Selection)

Wooden handle label: 特製庖丁 (Specially Made Kitchen Knife)

The combination of the recognizable Seki Magoroku Ume inscription, the feather trademark, and the surviving vintage handle label makes this an interesting set of Japanese culinary tools.

Rather than being extensively refinished to conceal their age, both knives retain visible traces of their previous use, offering considerable appeal to collectors and restoration enthusiasts.

Condition – Important Information for Bidders

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

Their condition includes:

Age-related dirt, staining and discoloration

Rust and oxidation

Scratches and scuff marks on the blades

Chipping or damage to the blade tips

Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges

Wear from age, sharpening and previous use

Dirt and scratches around the ferrules

Dirt and signs of previous use on the wooden handles

Other age-related imperfections

The knives are offered in their present vintage condition and have not been fully cleaned, polished, restored or professionally sharpened.

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 surviving label.

These are vintage working knives, not fully restored or maintenance-free modern kitchen knives.

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

Traditional Japanese wooden handles are replaceable components. Due to age, drying, shrinkage and previous use, handle adjustment, repair or replacement may become necessary.

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

An Appealing Pair for Collectors and Restoration Enthusiasts

With the “Seki Magoroku Ume (関孫六 梅)” Usuba and the feather-trademark Yanagiba bearing “特撰” and retaining its “特製庖丁” handle label, this set offers an attractive combination of traditional Japanese knife forms and surviving vintage markings.

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