Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・出刃包丁 菊一文字別作/堺信清

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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 – “Kikuichimonji Bessaku” / “Sakai Nobukiyo” – Signed Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives with Original Label & Handle Branding

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

Both knives bear clearly identifiable Japanese inscriptions and retain the authentic character of older Japanese working kitchen tools.

The Yanagiba on the left is signed “菊一文字別作” (Kikuichimonji Bessaku).

The Deba on the right is signed “堺信清” (Sakai Nobukiyo) and is particularly interesting for the additional surviving details: its ferrule retains an old Japanese label reading “最高級 本鍛錬 堺剣菊水刃 謹製”, while the wooden handle bears the branded inscription “堺信清特撰”.

The combination of recognizable blade inscriptions, surviving period-style labeling, handle branding and two classic Japanese knife forms makes this a highly characterful vintage set for collectors, restorers and enthusiasts of traditional Japanese culinary tools.

1. Yanagiba – “Kikuichimonji Bessaku” (菊一文字別作)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, characterized by its long, slender blade and pointed tip.

The blade is clearly inscribed:

菊一文字別作 – Kikuichimonji Bessaku

The term 別作 (Bessaku) literally indicates a specially made or special-production item and is a designation traditionally encountered on Japanese cutlery.

The knife has the elegant elongated proportions characteristic of the Yanagiba form. Its long cutting edge is traditionally suited to smooth drawing cuts when slicing fish and preparing sashimi.

The blade retains visible evidence of its long working history, including patina, oxidation, scratches and sharpening wear, giving it the unmistakable character of an older Japanese culinary tool rather than a modern reproduction.

Approximate dimensions
Overall length: 33.5 cm
Blade length: 20 cm
Handle length: approximately 13.5 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 2.8–3.0 cm

Traditional wooden Japanese handle with dark ferrule.

2. Deba – “Sakai Nobukiyo” (堺信清)

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Deba, with the broad, substantial blade profile associated with fish preparation.

The blade bears the inscription:

堺信清 – Sakai Nobukiyo

The wooden handle is additionally branded:

堺信清特撰 – Sakai Nobukiyo Tokusen

Here, 特撰 (Tokusen) conveys the sense of “specially selected” or “special quality.”

An especially attractive surviving feature is the old label around the ferrule, reading:

最高級 本鍛錬 堺剣菊水刃 謹製

The wording emphasizes the knife's quality and traditional forging-related presentation, including “最高級” (highest grade) and “本鍛錬” (genuine/traditional forging).

The survival of this label together with the blade inscription and branded wooden handle gives the knife particularly strong vintage character.

Approximate dimensions
Overall length: 31.5 cm
Blade length: 17.5 cm
Handle length: approximately 14 cm
Maximum blade height: approximately 5.0 cm

Traditional wooden Japanese handle with metal ferrule, surviving vintage label and “堺信清特撰” branding.

Surviving Japanese Markings & Vintage Details

One of the strongest features of this lot is the amount of identifying information that remains visible.

Yanagiba

Blade:
菊一文字別作

Deba

Blade:
堺信清

Handle branding:
堺信清特撰

Ferrule label:
最高級 本鍛錬 堺剣菊水刃 謹製

Older working kitchen knives frequently lose labels and other identifying details through repeated use, washing, sharpening, handle replacement and general deterioration.

For this reason, the surviving label and handle branding on the Deba provide additional visual and collectible interest beyond the blade inscription itself.

A Classic Japanese Yanagiba & Deba Pairing

The Yanagiba and Deba represent one of the most characteristic combinations in traditional Japanese fish preparation.

The Deba, with its broad and substantial blade, is traditionally associated with breaking down and preparing fish.

The Yanagiba represents the opposite side of Japanese knife geometry: long, slender and designed for controlled slicing, particularly when preparing sashimi and similar dishes.

Together, the two knives illustrate two highly distinctive forms within Japanese culinary cutlery and make an appealing display or restoration set.

Authentic Vintage Character

These knives have not been cosmetically restored to disguise their age.

Their surfaces retain visible traces of their previous working lives, including oxidation, scratches, sharpening marks, discoloration and wear to the handles and fittings.

Such signs should not be interpreted as new-condition imperfections; rather, they are an integral part of the present vintage, used and unrestored condition of the knives.

For collectors and restoration enthusiasts, this also provides an opportunity to preserve the existing patina or carefully restore the knives according to personal preference.

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:

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

The surviving label on the Deba also shows age-related wear and should be treated as a fragile vintage component.

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.

Important Notice for Bidders

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

They are particularly suitable for collectors, restorers and experienced Japanese knife enthusiasts who understand the condition of vintage blades and are capable of carrying out their own cleaning and sharpening.

Depending on their intended use, they may require:

Thorough cleaning
Rust and oxidation removal
Sharpening
Correction of edge chips
Repair or reshaping of damaged tips
Maintenance of the ferrules and handles
Other restoration work as necessary

Care should be taken when cleaning the Deba so as not to damage the surviving vintage ferrule label and handle branding.

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 characterful pairing of a “菊一文字別作 / Kikuichimonji Bessaku” Yanagiba and a “堺信清 / Sakai Nobukiyo” Deba retaining its “最高級 本鍛錬…” vintage ferrule label and “堺信清特撰” handle branding—an appealing set of two signed Japanese knives preserving authentic traces of their working history.
■ 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.

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buyer must respond to customs requests promptly. failure may result in delay, return, confiscation, or destruction of parcel.

● returned parcels
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● 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.