Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・小出刃包丁 堺登録菊秀本鍛錬/木屋

● 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
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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 & Ko-Deba Knife Set – Sakai KIKUHIDE “Hontanren” & KIYA – Signed Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

A highly characterful set of two vintage Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a traditional Yanagiba and a compact Ko-Deba (small Deba).

Both knives bear identifiable Japanese inscriptions and retain the authentic appearance of older Japanese culinary tools that have seen genuine use over many years.

The long Yanagiba on the left is inscribed “堺登録 菊秀 本鍛錬” (Sakai Registered KIKUHIDE – Hontanren) and its wooden handle also retains a branded mark reading “堺登録商標 菊秀” (Sakai Registered Trademark KIKUHIDE).

The smaller Ko-Deba on the right is signed “木屋” (KIYA).

The combination of two distinctly different traditional blade forms, surviving maker/brand markings, wooden wa-handles and genuine signs of prolonged use makes this an appealing set for collectors, restoration enthusiasts and admirers of traditional Japanese culinary tools.

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

1. Yanagiba – “Sakai Registered KIKUHIDE Hontanren” (堺登録 菊秀 本鍛錬)

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

The blade bears the inscription:

堺登録 菊秀 本鍛錬
Sakai Registered KIKUHIDE – Hontanren

The wooden handle additionally bears a branded mark reading:

堺登録商標 菊秀
Sakai Registered Trademark KIKUHIDE

The presence of both the blade inscription and surviving handle branding gives this knife particularly attractive vintage character.

The inscription “本鍛錬” (Hontanren) literally refers to traditional forging/forging craftsmanship and forms part of the original marking on the blade.

Its elongated Yanagiba profile is traditionally associated with smooth drawing cuts, particularly in Japanese fish and sashimi preparation.

The knife is fitted with a traditional wooden wa-handle and metal ferrule.

Approximate dimensions
Overall length: approx. 34.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 21.5 cm
Handle including ferrule: approx. 13.0 cm
Maximum blade height: approx. 2.8 cm
2. Ko-Deba – “KIYA” (木屋)

The knife on the right is a compact traditional Japanese Ko-Deba, or small Deba.

The blade is clearly marked:

木屋
KIYA

Its compact but relatively substantial blade profile is characteristic of a small utility-oriented Deba form. Compared with the long and slender Yanagiba, the Ko-Deba has a much shorter and broader blade, making the two knives an attractive representation of contrasting Japanese kitchen-knife geometries.

The blade retains substantial visible patina, oxidation and signs of previous sharpening and use, giving it an unmistakably vintage appearance.

It is fitted with a traditional wooden handle and dark ferrule.

Approximate dimensions
Overall length: approx. 25.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 11.5 cm
Handle including ferrule: approx. 14.0 cm
Maximum blade height: approx. 3.7 cm
Two Contrasting Traditional Japanese Blade Forms

This set offers an interesting pairing of two very different Japanese kitchen knives.

The Yanagiba has a long, narrow blade traditionally associated with precise slicing and smooth drawing cuts, particularly for fish and sashimi.

The Ko-Deba, by contrast, is short, compact and comparatively broad, representing the smaller form of the traditional Japanese Deba.

Together, they demonstrate the specialization found in traditional Japanese culinary cutlery: one long and refined slicing knife accompanied by a compact, robust small Deba.

Surviving Japanese Inscriptions & Branding

A particularly interesting aspect of this set is the survival of identifiable Japanese markings on both knives.

Yanagiba:

Blade: 堺登録 菊秀 本鍛錬
Handle brand: 堺登録商標 菊秀

Ko-Deba:

Blade: 木屋 / KIYA

These inscriptions and the surviving handle branding contribute considerably to the historical and collectible character of the set.

The knives have not been refinished to conceal their age. Their surfaces retain scratches, sharpening marks, oxidation, discoloration and other traces accumulated during their working lives.

Authentic Unrestored Vintage Condition

These are genuinely used vintage Japanese kitchen knives, rather than modern reproductions presented in artificially aged condition.

Their surfaces show the marks of previous use, sharpening and long-term storage. For collectors and restoration enthusiasts, this unrestored state offers the opportunity either to preserve their existing patina or to carefully clean, sharpen and restore them according to personal preference.

No attempt has been made to make these knives appear new for this sale.

Condition – Please Read Carefully

Both knives are sold in their present, unrestored vintage condition.

They show age- and use-related signs including:

Rust and oxidation
Dirt and staining
Patina and discoloration
Scratches and rubbing marks
Surface wear
Wear caused by previous sharpening
Sharpening marks
Edge chipping
Chipping/damage to the blade tips
Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
Wear and age-related deterioration around the ferrules
Dirt, staining and scratches on the wooden handles
General signs of prolonged use and storage

The Ko-Deba in particular shows clearly visible oxidation/patina and surface wear consistent with its age and previous use.

Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding, as 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 offered as restored or immediately ready for culinary use.

They are recommended for collectors, restoration enthusiasts and experienced Japanese-knife users who understand the condition of vintage blades and are capable of carrying out their own cleaning, sharpening and maintenance.

Depending on the intended use, they may require:

Thorough cleaning
Rust and oxidation removal
Sharpening
Correction of edge chips
Correction of tip damage
Maintenance of the ferrules and wooden handles
Other restoration work as necessary

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

All dimensions are approximate and have been estimated from the measuring scale shown in the photographs.

A distinctive signed vintage Japanese knife set combining the elegant profile of a Sakai KIKUHIDE “Hontanren” Yanagiba with a compact KIYA Ko-Deba—an appealing pair for collectors of Japanese culinary tools and enthusiasts who appreciate the restoration and preservation of traditional working knives.
■ 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.