Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・菜切り包丁 宗行作/宗行作

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Vintage Japanese Yanagiba & Nakiri Knife Set – 「宗行作」 Muneyuki-saku – Signed Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives – Matching Pair

An attractive vintage set of two traditional Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a long Yanagiba (sashimi knife) and a broad-bladed Nakiri (Japanese vegetable knife).

Both knives bear the same Japanese inscription:

「宗行作」 – Muneyuki-saku

They are also fitted with traditional wooden handles bearing matching 「手造りの味」 (“The Taste/Quality of Handcraftsmanship”) labels.

The matching maker inscriptions and surviving handle labels give the two knives a particularly unified appearance and make them an appealing pair for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery.

The set also provides an interesting contrast between two highly characteristic Japanese blade forms: the long, elegant Yanagiba traditionally associated with fish and sashimi preparation, and the broad, straight-edged Nakiri developed for vegetable preparation.

1. Yanagiba – 「宗行作」 (Muneyuki-saku)

The longer knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba.

The blade bears the inscription:

「宗行作」 – Muneyuki-saku

The wooden handle retains a Japanese paper label reading:

「手造りの味」 – “The Taste/Quality of Handcraftsmanship”

The Yanagiba is one of the classic specialist knives of Japanese cuisine. Its long, narrow blade is traditionally designed to make smooth drawing cuts through fish, making this style particularly associated with the preparation of sashimi.

This example has an elegant elongated profile leading to a sharply pointed tip, together with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and dark ferrule.

Approximate dimensions:

Total length: approx. 34 cm
Blade length: approx. 21 cm
Handle section: approx. 13 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 3 cm
2. Nakiri – 「宗行作」 (Muneyuki-saku)

The broader knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Nakiri, also bearing the inscription:

「宗行作」 – Muneyuki-saku

Like the Yanagiba, its wooden handle retains a matching:

「手造りの味」 – “The Taste/Quality of Handcraftsmanship”

paper label.

The Nakiri is a classic Japanese vegetable knife, recognizable by its broad, almost rectangular blade and relatively straight cutting edge.

This distinctive blade geometry is traditionally suited to chopping, slicing and preparing vegetables with efficient vertical cutting motions.

The tall blade also provides a striking visual contrast with the slender Yanagiba, making the two knives particularly attractive when displayed together.

It is fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and dark ferrule matching the general appearance of the Yanagiba.

Approximate dimensions:

Total length: approx. 31 cm
Blade length: approx. 17 cm
Handle section: approx. 14 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5 cm
Matching Signed Pair – Two Classic Japanese Blade Forms

One of the most attractive features of this set is that both knives bear the same 「宗行作」 inscription and retain matching 「手造りの味」 handle labels.

At the same time, they represent two very different traditional Japanese knife forms.

The long and slender Yanagiba is associated with the precise slicing of fish and sashimi, while the broad Nakiri is a traditional specialist knife for vegetable preparation.

Together they offer an excellent illustration of the specialized blade designs developed within Japanese culinary culture.

The matching inscriptions, traditional wooden handles and surviving labels also give the pair additional vintage character and make them interesting examples for a collection of Japanese culinary tools.

Condition

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

Due to age and previous use, they show 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 and age-related wear.

The wooden handles show dirt, marks, scratches and other signs of previous use and age. The surviving paper labels also show age-related deterioration and wear.

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

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.

An appealing matching pair of signed Muneyuki-saku (宗行作) vintage Japanese knives, combining the elegant form of a Yanagiba with the distinctive broad profile of a Nakiri, complete with matching 「手造りの味」 labels.
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● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK,UNITED KINGDOM,UNITED STATES (USA)

● bidding and payment
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● 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
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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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