Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和三徳・柳刃包丁 特製忠房/國重

● 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 Santoku & Deba Kitchen Knife Set – “Tokusei Tadafusa” / “Noguchi Haruyo” & Kunishige Trademark – 2 Signed Traditional Knives

A distinctive set of two vintage Japanese traditional kitchen knives, consisting of a versatile Santoku and a substantial Deba.

Both knives bear Japanese inscriptions and retain the unmistakable character of older Japanese working kitchen tools. Particularly noteworthy is the Deba, which carries identifying marks in several locations: “野口晴代” on the blade, “登録商標 國重” on the reverse, and “本家登録商標 國重” branded into the wooden handle.

The combination of multiple surviving inscriptions, traditional Japanese wooden handles, visible signs of long-term use and two contrasting blade forms makes this an attractive set for collectors, restorers and enthusiasts of vintage Japanese cutlery.

These knives are offered in their present, unrestored vintage condition.

1. Santoku Knife – “Tokusei Tadafusa” (特製忠房)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Santoku, a versatile general-purpose knife form widely associated with everyday Japanese cooking.

The blade is inscribed:

特製忠房 – Tokusei Tadafusa

The term 特製 (Tokusei) indicates “special made” or “special quality,” while 忠房 (Tadafusa) is the name appearing on the blade.

The knife has the broad blade and relatively high profile characteristic of the Santoku form. Its gently curving upper profile leads toward a rounded but defined tip, giving it the balanced and practical appearance typical of this versatile Japanese knife style.

The blade retains visible oxidation, patina, scratches, sharpening wear and other evidence of its long history as a working kitchen knife.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 31 cm
Blade length: 17 cm
Handle length: approximately 14 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 4.5–5.0 cm

Fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and dark ferrule.

2. Deba Knife – “Noguchi Haruyo” / Kunishige (野口晴代 / 國重)

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Deba, with a long, substantial blade profile.

The blade bears the inscription:

野口晴代 – Noguchi Haruyo

The reverse side is additionally marked:

登録商標 國重 – Registered Trademark Kunishige

Furthermore, the wooden handle retains a branded inscription reading:

本家登録商標 國重 – Honke Registered Trademark Kunishige

The presence of these multiple markings on the blade, reverse side and handle is one of the most interesting features of this knife.

Rather than having only a single blade inscription, this example retains several identifying details associated with its original manufacture or branding, giving it particularly strong character as a vintage Japanese culinary tool.

Its substantial blade provides a striking contrast to the broader but shorter Santoku beside it.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 34 cm
Blade length: 20 cm
Handle length: approximately 13.5–14 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 3.0 cm

Fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and metal ferrule.

Multiple Surviving Japanese Inscriptions

The identifying marks are an especially attractive aspect of this set.

The Santoku retains the blade inscription:

特製忠房

while the second knife carries three notable markings:

Front of blade: 野口晴代
Reverse of blade: 登録商標 國重
Wooden handle: 本家登録商標 國重

For collectors of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, surviving blade inscriptions and handle branding provide additional visual and historical interest, particularly when several related markings remain on a single knife.

Together, these details give the set considerably more character than an anonymous pair of older working blades.

Authentic Vintage Character

These knives have not been polished or refinished to make them appear new.

Instead, they retain the traces accumulated during their working lives: oxidation, scratches, sharpening wear, discoloration and aging of the wooden handles.

This is an important part of their appeal as vintage Japanese culinary tools.

The two knives also demonstrate contrasting Japanese blade geometries—the versatile, broad Santoku alongside the more specialized Deba—making them an interesting pair for both display and restoration.

Condition

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

They show various age- and use-related signs, including:

Dirt and staining
Rust and oxidation
Patina and discoloration
Scratches and rubbing marks
Blade and surface wear
Evidence of repeated sharpening
Edge chipping
Damage/chipping to the blade tips
Dirt, scratches and wear around the ferrules
Dirt, staining and scratches on the wooden handles
General age-related deterioration from prolonged use and storage

The Tokusei Tadafusa Santoku in particular shows clearly visible oxidation/rust and discoloration on the blade, as can be seen in the photographs.

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

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

Important Notice for Bidders

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

They are intended primarily for collectors, restorers and experienced Japanese knife enthusiasts who understand the condition of vintage blades and are capable of performing their own cleaning and sharpening.

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

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

A characterful vintage pairing of a “Tokusei Tadafusa” Santoku and a “Noguchi Haruyo” Deba retaining “Kunishige” trademark markings on both the reverse of the blade and the wooden handle. Two signed Japanese working knives retaining authentic traces of their age and use, with excellent potential for careful cleaning and 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.