Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和出刃・柳刃包丁 天川屋/関孫六幸竹

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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 Deba & Yanagiba Knife Set – Sakai Amakawaya / Seki Magoroku Kōchiku – KAI – Signed Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

An attractive vintage set of **two traditional Japanese kitchen knives**, consisting of a substantial **Deba (fish-processing knife)** and a long, slender **Yanagiba (sashimi knife)**.

Both knives bear Japanese inscriptions and maker/brand markings, with additional branding preserved on the handles and blade. The set combines two classic and complementary forms of Japanese fish knife: the powerful Deba for the heavier stages of fish preparation and the elegant Yanagiba for precise slicing.

Of particular interest, the Deba bears the **Amakawaya (天川屋)** name on the blade together with a **Sakai Amakawaya (堺天川屋)** branded mark on the wooden handle, while the Yanagiba is marked **Seki Magoroku Kōchiku (関孫六 幸竹)** and additionally carries **KAI / HIGH CARBON STAINLESS STEEL / MADE IN JAPAN** markings on the reverse of the blade.

An appealing set for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, enthusiasts of traditional Japanese culinary tools, or experienced users who enjoy restoring, sharpening and maintaining older Japanese knives.

### 1. Deba – 「天川屋」 / 「堺天川屋」 – Amakawaya / Sakai Amakawaya

The larger and broader knife on the left is a traditional Japanese **Deba**.

The blade bears the inscription:

**「天川屋」 – Amakawaya**

In addition, the wooden handle retains the branded mark:

**「堺天川屋」 – Sakai Amakawaya**

The combination of the blade inscription and the surviving branded handle is a particularly attractive detail, emphasizing the traditional Japanese character of this vintage knife.

The knife has the characteristic substantial profile of a Deba, with a broad blade, considerable blade height and a strong pointed form.

The Deba is one of the classic specialist knives of Japanese cuisine. It is traditionally associated with the preparation of whole fish, including filleting and working around the head, joints and bones.

The knife is fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and a metal ferrule, giving it a robust and distinctive vintage appearance.

**Approximate dimensions:**

* Total length: approx. **31.5 cm**
* Blade length: approx. **18 cm**
* Handle section: approx. **13.5 cm**
* Maximum blade width: approx. **5.5 cm**

### 2. Yanagiba – 「関孫六 幸竹」 – Seki Magoroku Kōchiku / KAI

The second knife is a long and slender traditional-style **Yanagiba**, bearing the Japanese inscription:

**「関孫六 幸竹」 – Seki Magoroku Kōchiku**

The reverse side of the blade is additionally marked:

**“KAI HIGH CARBON STAINLESS STEEL”**
**“MADE IN JAPAN”**
**“SINCE 1908”**
**“23J6”**

These surviving markings are particularly useful and interesting, as the knife itself explicitly identifies **KAI**, **High Carbon Stainless Steel**, and **Made in Japan**.

The Yanagiba has the characteristic long, narrow profile traditionally associated with Japanese sashimi preparation. Its elongated blade allows smooth drawing cuts through fish, contrasting clearly with the broad and powerful profile of the accompanying Deba.

The combination of the Japanese **Seki Magoroku Kōchiku** inscription on one side and the KAI, steel and Japanese-manufacture markings on the reverse makes this an especially interesting vintage Japanese kitchen knife.

It is fitted with a wooden Japanese-style handle, a black ferrule, and distinctive dark decorative inlays on the handle.

**Approximate dimensions:**

* Total length: approx. **32 cm**
* Blade length: approx. **19 cm**
* Handle section: approx. **13 cm**
* Maximum blade width: approx. **3 cm**

## A Classic Combination of Two Japanese Fish Knives

The **Deba and Yanagiba** represent two of the most characteristic forms of traditional Japanese fish knives.

The robust Deba is traditionally used for the heavier stages of preparing and filleting whole fish, while the long and slender Yanagiba is associated with the precise final slicing required for sashimi and similar preparations.

Placed together, their dramatically different blade profiles illustrate the highly specialized nature of traditional Japanese kitchen knives, in which different blade forms were developed for specific culinary tasks.

The surviving inscriptions, branded handle, and blade markings further enhance the character and collectability of this vintage pair.

This set is therefore interesting not only as traditional Japanese kitchen equipment, but also as a collectible or restoration project for enthusiasts of vintage Japanese cutlery.

## Condition

These are **vintage, previously used Japanese kitchen knives** and are offered in their present condition.

Due to age and previous use, there are **dirt and staining, rust/oxidation, scratches and scuff marks, damage/chipping to the blade tips, chips along the cutting edges, and other signs of age and use**.

The ferrule areas also show **dirt, scratches, dents, misalignment and other age-related wear**.

The wooden handles show **dirt, scratches, marks, wear and other signs of previous use and age**.

Please carefully examine all photographs before bidding. The photographs form an important part of the description and provide the best indication of the actual condition of both knives.

**These are vintage used knives and are not offered as newly sharpened or immediately ready-to-use modern kitchen knives.**

They are recommended only for buyers who understand the characteristics and condition of vintage Japanese cutlery and who are able to carry out **cleaning, rust removal and sharpening themselves as necessary**.

**Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the above condition and are able to perform the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.**

A distinctive pair of signed vintage Japanese knives combining the powerful form of a **Sakai Amakawaya Deba** with the elegant profile of a **Seki Magoroku Kōchiku Yanagiba by KAI**, complete with surviving Japanese and English maker/brand markings.

■ 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.

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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
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● important notice for italy
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● 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.

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● 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.