Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 左利き用和出刃・柳刃 義久木屋/二見浦菊一文字則宗

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Rare Left-Handed Vintage Japanese Deba & Yanagiba Knife Set – Yoshihisa Kiya / Futamigaura Kikuichimonji – 2 Signed Traditional Japanese Knives

A particularly interesting and uncommon set of two vintage Japanese left-handed kitchen knives, consisting of a traditional Deba and Yanagiba.

The most important feature of this set is that both knives are made for left-handed use. Traditional Japanese single-bevel knives are much more commonly encountered in right-handed configuration, making vintage left-handed examples particularly desirable for left-handed cooks, Japanese knife enthusiasts and collectors.

Both knives are signed. The Deba bears the markings “義久 木屋” (Yoshihisa / Kiya), while the Yanagiba is marked “二見浦 菊一文字” (Futamigaura Kikuichimonji). The wooden handle of the Yanagiba additionally retains a branded inscription reading “二見ケ浦 菊一文字則宗”.

The combination of left-handed construction, two traditional specialized blade forms, surviving Japanese inscriptions and genuine signs of long-term use gives this pair considerable character as vintage Japanese culinary tools.

1. Left-Handed Deba – “Yoshihisa / Kiya” (義久 木屋)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba, configured for a left-handed user.

The blade bears the inscriptions:

義久 – Yoshihisa
木屋 – Kiya

The Deba is one of the characteristic specialized forms of traditional Japanese kitchen cutlery, with a comparatively broad and substantial blade designed primarily for fish preparation.

This example has a compact but powerful profile, with considerable blade height and a pointed tip.

The blade retains extensive traces of its working history, including oxidation, patina, scratches and sharpening wear. Rather than being cosmetically restored, these signs of age remain visible as part of its authentic vintage character.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 31 cm
Blade length: 16 cm
Handle length: approximately 14.5 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 5.0 cm

Traditional wooden Japanese handle with dark ferrule.

2. Left-Handed Yanagiba – “Futamigaura Kikuichimonji” (二見浦 菊一文字)

The knife on the right is a long, slender traditional Japanese Yanagiba, also configured for left-handed use.

The blade bears the inscription:

二見浦　菊一文字
Futamigaura Kikuichimonji

In addition, the wooden handle retains a branded inscription reading:

二見ケ浦 菊一文字則宗

This surviving handle branding is an especially attractive detail, complementing the inscription on the blade and adding further character to the knife.

The Yanagiba has the classic elongated and narrow profile associated with precise slicing of fish and sashimi. Its long cutting edge allows the user to perform smooth drawing cuts with minimal interruption.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 36 cm
Blade length: 22 cm
Handle length: approximately 14 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 2.5–2.8 cm

Traditional wooden Japanese handle with dark ferrule and surviving branded inscription.

Rare Left-Handed Configuration

A major feature of this lot is that both knives are left-handed examples.

Traditional Japanese Deba and Yanagiba knives commonly employ an asymmetrical, single-bevel blade geometry. Consequently, right- and left-handed versions are not simply interchangeable in the same way as many symmetrical Western-style kitchen knives.

Historically and commercially, right-handed examples are encountered much more frequently. Left-handed traditional Japanese knives are therefore considerably less common on the vintage market, particularly when offered as a matched functional pairing such as a Deba and Yanagiba.

For a left-handed cook or collector, this set offers two of the most characteristic specialized Japanese fish-preparation knife forms in the appropriate orientation.

This makes the pair especially interesting for:

Collectors of traditional Japanese kitchen knives
Left-handed professional or experienced cooks
Enthusiasts of vintage Japanese culinary tools
Knife restoration enthusiasts
Collectors seeking less commonly encountered blade configurations
Traditional Deba & Yanagiba Pairing

The two knives represent a classic and highly complementary combination within traditional Japanese fish preparation.

The Deba is the broader and more substantial knife of the pair, traditionally associated with breaking down and preparing fish.

The Yanagiba, by contrast, is long, narrow and elegant, traditionally associated with the precise slicing of prepared fish for sashimi and similar dishes.

Together, they illustrate two distinct stages and philosophies of traditional Japanese knife work—the robust geometry of the Deba and the long, controlled slicing geometry of the Yanagiba.

The fact that both examples are left-handed makes this pairing particularly noteworthy.

Japanese Inscriptions

The surviving markings are another appealing aspect of this lot.

Deba:

義久
木屋

Yanagiba:

Blade: 二見浦 菊一文字
Handle branding: 二見ケ浦 菊一文字則宗

These inscriptions remain visible despite the knives' age and previous sharpening and use, contributing to their identity and vintage appeal.

Condition

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

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

Dirt and staining
Rust and oxidation
Patina and discoloration
Scratches and rubbing marks
Surface wear
Sharpening wear
Edge chipping
Damage/chipping to the blade tips
Wear and deterioration around the blade edges
Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
Dirt, staining and scratches on the wooden handles
General age-related deterioration from prolonged use and storage

The Deba in particular displays clearly visible oxidation, staining and patina across portions of the blade.

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 are intentionally offered with their existing patina and traces of previous use.

Important Notice for Bidders

These knives are not presented as restored or immediately ready for culinary use.

They are recommended for collectors, restorers and experienced Japanese knife enthusiasts who understand vintage single-bevel knives and are capable of carrying out their own cleaning, sharpening and maintenance.

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.

Because these are left-handed knives, prospective bidders should also make sure that this blade orientation is appropriate for their intended use.

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

A particularly appealing opportunity to acquire two signed vintage left-handed Japanese knives as a single set: a substantial “義久 木屋” Deba and an elegant “二見浦 菊一文字” Yanagiba with “二見ケ浦 菊一文字則宗” handle branding. A distinctive pairing for the left-handed Japanese knife enthusiast, collector or experienced restorer.
■ 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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● 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.