Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・出刃包丁 兼秀作/堺天川屋

● 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
- Poland

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 Yanagiba & Deba Kitchen Knife Set – Kaneshide / Amakawaya Sakai – Traditional Japanese Knives – Set of 2

An attractive set of two vintage Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a traditional Yanagiba slicing knife and a substantial Deba knife.

Both knives bear Japanese maker inscriptions and retain their traditional wooden handles. The set represents two of the most characteristic forms of traditional Japanese fish-preparation knives and should appeal to collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, enthusiasts of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, and experienced users looking for older knives suitable for careful restoration, cleaning and sharpening.

These are genuine vintage used knives and display the patina and traces of use accumulated over many years.

1. Yanagiba Knife – 登録商標 兼秀作 / Registered Trademark Kaneshide-saku

The long, slender blade is engraved:

「登録商標 兼秀作」
Tōroku Shōhyō Kaneshide-saku
“Registered Trademark – Made by Kaneshide”

The elegant elongated blade profile is characteristic of the traditional Japanese Yanagiba, a specialized slicing knife traditionally associated with fish and sashimi preparation.

Its long and narrow blade is designed for smooth drawing cuts, allowing the user to slice through ingredients with a long, controlled motion.

Approximate Dimensions
Overall length: approx. 36.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 23 cm
Handle length including ferrule: approx. 13.5 cm

The knife retains its traditional wooden handle with a dark ferrule.

2. Deba Knife – 天川屋 / Amakawaya – Sakai

The second knife is a traditional Japanese Deba, with the blade engraved:

「天川屋」
Amakawaya

The wooden handle also bears a branded inscription:

「堺・巴紋・天川屋」
Sakai – Tomoe crest – Amakawaya

The presence of the Sakai marking on the handle is particularly interesting. Sakai, Osaka, has a long and distinguished history as one of Japan's most important centres of traditional cutlery production.

The Deba has a broad, substantial blade profile typical of this classic Japanese knife form. Traditionally, Deba knives are associated with the initial preparation and processing of fish and provide a strong visual contrast to the slender Yanagiba included in this set.

Approximate Dimensions
Overall length: approx. 32 cm
Blade length: approx. 18.5 cm
Handle length including ferrule: approx. 13.5 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5 cm

The knife retains its traditional wooden handle and metal ferrule, with the Sakai / Tomoe crest / Amakawaya branding still visible on the handle.

Two Classic Japanese Knife Forms in One Vintage Set

This lot offers an appealing combination of two complementary traditional Japanese knife forms.

The Yanagiba is characterized by its long, narrow blade intended for controlled slicing, while the Deba has a deeper and more substantial profile traditionally associated with fish preparation.

The inscriptions 「登録商標 兼秀作」 and 「天川屋」, together with the Sakai / Tomoe crest / Amakawaya branded marking on the Deba handle, give the set additional character and collecting interest.

Rather than modern unused knives, these pieces retain the appearance of genuine working tools that have been used and maintained over many years. Their patina and signs of use form part of their authentic vintage character.

Condition – Important: Please Read Carefully Before Bidding

These are vintage used Japanese knives offered in their present condition.

They show various signs of age, previous use and long-term storage, including:

Dirt and discoloration
Rust and oxidation
Scratches and surface wear
General blade wear
Edge chips
Damage/chipping to the blade tips
Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
Chips and other age-related damage around the ferrule areas
Dirt and wear on the wooden handles
Other age-related signs of use and deterioration

The knives have not been professionally restored or sharpened for this sale.

Please examine all photographs carefully. The photographs form an important part of the condition description and show the actual items included in this lot.

This set is intended for buyers who understand the condition of vintage Japanese knives and are capable of cleaning and sharpening them themselves.

Please bid only if you fully accept their present vintage condition and possess the knowledge and ability required for appropriate maintenance.

A characterful vintage pairing of a Kaneshide-saku Yanagiba and an Amakawaya Sakai Deba, combining two iconic Japanese knife forms with visible maker markings and the authentic patina 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.