Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和出刃・柳刃包丁 特製利三郎/菊弘作

● 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
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- Portugal
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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 Kitchen Knife Set – “Tokusei Risaburo” / “Kikuhiro” – 2 Signed Traditional Knives

A characterful set of two vintage Japanese traditional kitchen knives, consisting of a compact, broad-bladed Deba and a long, slender Yanagiba.

Both knives bear Japanese inscriptions and retain the unmistakable appearance of older Japanese working kitchen knives. The Deba also retains the remains of an old label on its wooden handle, although the writing is now too worn and damaged to be reliably identified.

These are not restored display pieces. They are genuine vintage knives showing extensive evidence of previous use, sharpening, age and storage, and are offered in their present, unrestored condition.

They are particularly suitable for collectors, restorers and experienced Japanese knife enthusiasts who appreciate traditional blades with authentic signs of use and restoration potential.

1. Deba Knife – “Tokusei Risaburo” (特製利三郎)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba, featuring a broad blade, substantial heel and compact but powerful proportions.

The blade is inscribed:

特製利三郎 – Tokusei Risaburo / Special Made Risaburo

The wooden handle also retains part of an old paper or foil label. However, due to extensive age-related wear, loss and deterioration, the original wording of the label can no longer be reliably read.

Rather than attempting an uncertain identification, the label is described exactly as it survives today.

The broad blade and pronounced height give this knife the robust silhouette associated with traditional Japanese Deba knives used for fish preparation.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 29 cm
Blade length: 15 cm
Handle length: approximately 14 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 4.5 cm

Fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and dark ferrule.

2. Yanagiba Knife – “Kikuhiro Saku” (菊弘作)

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, with a long, narrow blade and pointed tip.

The blade is inscribed:

菊弘作 – Kikuhiro Saku / Made by Kikuhiro

Its long and slender proportions create an elegant contrast with the compact, broad Deba beside it.

The blade gradually narrows toward the tip, displaying the characteristic profile associated with the Yanagiba form traditionally used for precise slicing of fish and sashimi.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 36 cm
Blade length: 21.5 cm
Handle length: approximately 14 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 2.5–3.0 cm

Fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and dark ferrule.

A Classic Contrast of Two Japanese Knife Forms

One of the attractive aspects of this set is the clear contrast between the two blades.

The Tokusei Risaburo Deba has a broad, deep and powerful profile, while the Kikuhiro Yanagiba is distinctly longer, narrower and more elegant.

Together they illustrate two very different traditional Japanese approaches to fish preparation: the robust form of the Deba and the long slicing geometry of the Yanagiba.

The surviving Japanese blade inscriptions, together with the remnants of the old handle label on the Deba, further enhance the vintage character of the pair.

Condition

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

They show age- and use-related deterioration including:

Dirt and staining
Rust and oxidation
Patina and discoloration
Scratches and rubbing marks
Surface wear and blade wear
Evidence of previous sharpening
Edge chipping
Damage/chipping to the blade tips
Dirt, scratches, wear and chips/damage around the ferrules
Dirt, staining, scratches and other signs of use on the wooden handles
Heavy wear, loss and deterioration to the old label on the Deba handle

The knives clearly show evidence of prolonged use and repeated maintenance over the years.

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

No professional restoration, complete rust removal, polishing or refinishing has been carried out for this sale. Their scratches, oxidation, wear and other traces of their working history remain visible.

Important Notice for Bidders

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

Due to their age and current condition, they are recommended primarily for collectors, restorers and experienced Japanese knife enthusiasts who are capable of carrying out their own cleaning, sharpening and maintenance.

Before practical use, they may require thorough cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, correction of edge chips and tip damage, and other restoration or maintenance work.

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

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

A distinctive vintage pairing of a signed “Tokusei Risaburo” Deba retaining the remains of an old handle label and a signed “Kikuhiro Saku” Yanagiba. Two authentic Japanese working knives with strong signs of age and use, considerable character, and excellent potential for careful restoration.
■ 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.