Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和出刃包丁セット 剣正宗/神戸田邊請合特製

● 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 Deba Kitchen Knife Set – Ken Masamune & Kobe Tanabe Special Quality – Traditional Japanese Fish Knives – Set of 2

A distinctive set of two vintage Japanese Deba kitchen knives, both bearing Japanese maker/retailer inscriptions and retaining their traditional wooden handles.

The Deba is one of the classic forms of traditional Japanese kitchen knives, characterized by its broad, substantial blade and traditionally used in the preparation and processing of fish. This pair offers two attractive examples with different inscriptions, making the set interesting not only as traditional culinary tools but also as collectible examples of vintage Japanese cutlery.

Both knives show clear evidence of age and previous use, retaining the authentic character and patina expected from genuine vintage Japanese kitchen tools.

1. Deba Knife – 剣正宗 / Ken Masamune

The blade is engraved:

「剣正宗」 – Ken Masamune

It has the characteristic broad and substantial profile of a traditional Japanese Deba knife, together with a traditional wooden handle and dark ferrule.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: approx. 31.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 17.5 cm
Handle including ferrule: approx. 14 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5 cm

The blade retains visible signs of its long history of use, giving it an appealing vintage character.

2. Deba Knife – 神戸田邊請合特製 / Kobe Tanabe Ukeai Tokusei

The second Deba bears the inscription:

「神戸田邊請合特製」

This can be rendered approximately as:

“Kobe Tanabe – Special Quality / Guaranteed Special Make.”

The wording 「請合」 (ukeai) is an older commercial expression conveying the sense of a product being guaranteed or vouched for, while 「特製」 (tokusei) indicates a specially made or special-quality product.

This inscription gives the knife additional historical and commercial character as a vintage Japanese culinary tool.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: approx. 32 cm
Blade length: approx. 17.5–18 cm
Handle including ferrule: approx. 14 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 4.5–5 cm

It retains its traditional wooden handle with a dark ferrule.

An Appealing Pair of Traditional Japanese Deba Knives

The combination of Ken Masamune and Kobe Tanabe Ukeai Tokusei makes this an attractive pair for collectors of vintage Japanese knives and enthusiasts of traditional Japanese culinary craftsmanship.

These are not modern reproduction pieces or unused contemporary knives. They are genuine vintage working knives showing evidence of actual use over many years.

The remaining inscriptions, traditional blade profiles, wooden handles and natural age-related patina give the pair considerable character.

They may also offer restoration potential for an experienced owner capable of properly cleaning, sharpening and maintaining older Japanese knives.

Condition – Important: Please Read Carefully Before Bidding

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

Both knives show signs of age, previous use and storage, including:

Age-related dirt and discoloration
Rust and oxidation
Scratches and surface wear
Edge chips
Chipping/damage to the blade tips
Other age-related signs of use and deterioration

They have not been professionally restored, polished or sharpened for this sale.

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

Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the present condition of these vintage knives and are capable of cleaning and sharpening them yourself.

They are particularly suitable for collectors, experienced Japanese-knife enthusiasts, or buyers who appreciate older Japanese culinary tools and possess the knowledge necessary for their proper maintenance.

An appealing vintage set of two traditional Japanese Deba knives, combining the 「剣正宗」 Ken Masamune and 「神戸田邊請合特製」 Kobe Tanabe Special Quality inscriptions with the authentic patina and character acquired through many years of use.
■ 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.