Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 本職用伝統的和包丁3本セット 堺貞宗

Vintage Japanese Professional Kitchen Knife Set with Wooden Saya – 3 Signed Wa-Bocho by Sadamune / Sakai Sadamune Betsuuchi
ヴィンテージ本職用 和包丁3本セット・木鞘付き ― 貞宗 / 堺貞宗別打 ― 銘入り和包丁
Offered here is a carefully assembled set of three vintage Japanese professional kitchen knives (wa-bocho), each with its own wooden saya, and all bearing maker’s inscriptions.
This is a practical and visually appealing group of traditional Japanese knives, suitable not only for use in the kitchen but also for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery and Sakai-style blades.

The set consists of:

Left knife: signed “Sadamune” (貞宗)
The handle still retains a “Sharpness Guaranteed – Sakura Mark” (切味保証サクラ印) label.
Center knife: signed “Sakai Sadamune Betsuuchi” (堺貞宗別打)
The handle also retains a “Sharpness Guaranteed – Sakura Mark” label.
Right knife: signed “Sakai Sadamune Betsuuchi” (堺貞宗別打)
This knife likewise bears a “Sharpness Guaranteed – Sakura Mark” label on the handle.

The three knives represent a traditional professional Japanese kitchen set, with different blade profiles for different culinary tasks. Their hand-finished appearance, signed blades, and original wooden saya give the lot a coherent and authentic character.

Approximate dimensions
1) Sadamune knife (left)
Overall length: approx. 31 cm
Blade length: approx. 17 cm
Wooden saya length: approx. 19.5 cm
2) Sakai Sadamune Betsuuchi knife (center)
Overall length: approx. 31 cm
Blade length: approx. 16.5 cm
Wooden saya length: approx. 18.5 cm
3) Sakai Sadamune Betsuuchi knife (right)
Overall length: approx. 35 cm
Blade length: approx. 21 cm
Wooden saya length: approx. 23 cm

Please note that all measurements are approximate and taken from the photographs.

Features and appeal

This lot is attractive for several reasons:

All three knives are signed, adding authenticity and collector interest.
Matching traditional wooden saya are included, a desirable feature for storage, display, and transport.
Two knives are signed Sakai Sadamune Betsuuchi, linking the set to the long-established knife-making tradition of Sakai, one of Japan’s most important historic cutlery regions.
The presence of the “Sharpness Guaranteed – Sakura Mark” labels on the handles adds further period character and commercial-historical interest.
The set offers a pleasing balance between utility and collectability: it is suitable as a working set for someone familiar with Japanese knives, while also being appealing as a vintage group with consistent provenance and atmosphere.

Rather than a random assortment, this is a well-matched vintage lot of traditional wa-bocho with an honest working history and a strong Japanese professional kitchen aesthetic.

Condition

These are vintage used knives, and they show age and use consistent with long-term storage and/or professional kitchen life.
Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the condition of old Japanese knives.

Visible condition issues include:

dirt and age-related staining
rust and oxidation spots
scratches and scuffs from use
wear to the blades
damage / chips / wear around the ferrule areas
handwritten former owner’s name in pen on the butt end of the handles
dirt, scratches, and wear to the wooden saya

The knives are sold as found / as is.
They have not been restored to a cosmetic “like new” condition, and no attempt has been made to conceal age or use. For many collectors, this untouched state is part of the appeal.

These knives are therefore recommended for:

collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery,
chefs or enthusiasts familiar with traditional Japanese knives,
buyers who are capable of carrying out their own cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, and maintenance.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an essential part of the description and show the overall condition, geometry, and character of the lot.

A solid and characterful vintage set of signed Japanese wa-bocho with wooden saya – an appealing lot for collectors, users, and admirers of traditional Sakai-style kitchen blades.
■ IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING

● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK

● 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. 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.