Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・出刃包丁 土佐政光特製/一文字之作

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Due to recent changes in EU import procedures, temporary shipping restrictions may apply to IOSS shipments under EUR 150 to the following countries:

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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 Yanagiba & Deba Knife Set – Tosa Masamitsu Special Made / Ichimonji no Saku – Signed Traditional Japanese Knives

A fascinating set of two vintage Japanese traditional kitchen knives, consisting of a long Yanagiba sashimi knife and a substantial Deba knife.

Both blades bear Japanese inscriptions, but the Yanagiba is particularly noteworthy for the remarkable surviving details on its original wooden handle: an old Japanese paper label guaranteeing the quality and cutting performance of the knife, together with a branded mark on the reverse side of the handle.

These surviving period details give the knife considerable character and make the pair especially appealing to collectors of vintage Japanese culinary tools.

Both knives retain clear traces of their long working lives and are offered in their present, unrestored vintage condition.

1. Yanagiba Knife – “Tosa Masamitsu Special Made” (土佐政光特製)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, with a long, narrow blade terminating in a pointed tip.

The blade is inscribed:

土佐政光特製 – Tosa Masamitsu Tokusei / Tosa Masamitsu Special Made

The knife is especially interesting because its wooden handle retains an old printed Japanese label.

The surviving text reads:

「精製したる特製品に付き切味の優秀なる事を保証致します　製造元」

This can be translated approximately as:

“As this is a specially manufactured, carefully finished product, the manufacturer guarantees its excellent cutting performance.”

Such an original label is a highly attractive surviving detail on a vintage working knife, providing a glimpse into the way Japanese cutlery was originally marketed and presented.

Additionally, the reverse side of the handle bears a branded mark reading:

「ウラ壽」

The combination of the blade inscription, surviving paper label and handle branding gives this knife particularly strong vintage character.

Its long, slender blade is characteristic of the Yanagiba form traditionally associated with sashimi and precise fish slicing.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 39 cm
Blade length: 24 cm
Handle length: approximately 14.5 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 2.5–3.0 cm

Traditional wooden handle with metal ferrule and surviving original-style paper label.

2. Deba Knife – “Ichimonji no Saku” (一文字之作)

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Deba, featuring a broad and substantial blade profile.

The blade bears the inscription:

一文字之作 – Ichimonji no Saku

The substantial blade, pronounced heel and relatively high blade profile are characteristic of the traditional Deba form associated with fish preparation in Japanese cuisine.

Its broad and powerful silhouette creates an excellent visual contrast with the long, slender Yanagiba.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 34 cm
Blade length: 19 cm
Handle length: approximately 14.5 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 4.5–5.0 cm

Fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and metal ferrule.

Particularly Interesting Vintage Details

The most distinctive feature of this set is undoubtedly the surviving presentation of the Tosa Masamitsu Yanagiba.

Older Japanese kitchen knives were practical working tools, and paper labels attached to their handles were naturally susceptible to wear, moisture and eventual loss through prolonged use.

On this example, however, a substantial portion of the old label remains visible, including the manufacturer's statement guaranteeing the knife's excellent cutting performance.

Together with the “Tosa Masamitsu Special Made” blade inscription and the “ウラ壽” branded mark on the reverse of the handle, it provides an unusually characterful combination of surviving identifying details.

The second knife, signed “Ichimonji no Saku,” complements it with the strong, broad proportions of a traditional Deba.

Together they form an appealing pair of contrasting traditional Japanese knife styles.

Condition

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

They show age- and use-related wear, including:

Dirt and staining
Rust and oxidation
Patina and discoloration
Scratches and rubbing marks
Surface and blade wear
Evidence of previous sharpening
Edge chipping
Wear and/or damage around the blade tips
Dirt, scratches, wear and age-related deterioration around the ferrules
Dirt, staining, scratches and other signs of use on the wooden handles
Age-related wear, discoloration and deterioration to the old paper label

The old label on the Yanagiba handle is naturally aged and worn and should be treated carefully as part of the knife's vintage character.

Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding. The photographs form an essential part of the condition description.

No professional polishing, complete rust removal or restoration has been carried out for this sale. The knives retain their existing patina, scratches, oxidation, sharpening marks and other evidence of previous use.

Important Notice for Bidders

These knives are not presented as restored or immediately ready-to-use kitchen knives.

They are recommended primarily for collectors, restorers and experienced Japanese knife enthusiasts who understand vintage blade condition and are capable of carrying out their own cleaning and sharpening.

Depending on the intended use, they may require cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, correction of edge chips or tip damage, and other maintenance/restoration work.

Particular care should also be taken if cleaning the handle of the Tosa Masamitsu knife in order to preserve its surviving vintage paper label.

Please bid only if you fully understand and accept their present vintage condition and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning, sharpening and maintenance yourself.

All dimensions are approximate measurements estimated from the measuring scale visible in the photograph.

A highly characterful pair comprising a “Tosa Masamitsu Special Made” Yanagiba with surviving Japanese guarantee label and handle branding, together with a signed “Ichimonji no Saku” Deba. An appealing vintage Japanese knife set retaining authentic evidence of age, craftsmanship and its long history as practical culinary equipment.
■ 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.