Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・出刃包丁 関孫六銀寿/善定

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Due to recent changes in EU import procedures, temporary shipping restrictions may apply to IOSS shipments under EUR 150 to the following countries:

- Austria
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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 – “Seki Magoroku Ginju / 関孫六銀寿” & “Zenjo / 善定” – Signed Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

An attractive set of two vintage Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a traditional Yanagiba and Deba, two of the most representative specialized blade forms in Japanese culinary culture.

Both knives bear Japanese inscriptions on their blades and retain traditional wooden wa-style handles.

The long Yanagiba on the left is signed “関孫六 銀寿” (Seki Magoroku Ginju) and retains a “関孫六” (Seki Magoroku) label on the handle.

The Deba on the right bears the inscription “善定” (Zenjo).

The two distinctly different blade profiles—the long and slender Yanagiba and the broad, substantial Deba—make this a particularly appealing pair for collectors of traditional Japanese knives as well as enthusiasts interested in restoring and maintaining vintage culinary tools.

1. Yanagiba – “Seki Magoroku Ginju / 関孫六 銀寿”

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

The blade is marked:

関孫六
銀寿

Seki Magoroku Ginju

The wooden handle also retains a black-and-silver “関孫六” (Seki Magoroku) label, an attractive surviving detail that complements the blade inscription.

The Yanagiba is one of the quintessential knives of traditional Japanese cuisine. Its elongated blade is traditionally designed for smooth drawing cuts, particularly when slicing fish and preparing sashimi.

This example has a particularly long, graceful silhouette and clearly shows evidence of its previous working life through sharpening marks, scratches, patina and other age-related wear.

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. 3.0 cm
2. Deba – “Zenjo / 善定”

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Deba, bearing the inscription:

善定
Zenjo

It features the broad, substantial blade profile characteristic of the Deba form, together with a traditional wooden handle and dark ferrule.

The Deba has historically been one of the principal Japanese knives used in fish preparation. Its broad blade and robust geometry contrast beautifully with the slender profile of the accompanying Yanagiba.

The blade retains visible patina, scratches and sharpening wear, giving it the authentic appearance of a Japanese kitchen knife that has been genuinely used over many years.

Approximate dimensions
Overall length: approx. 29.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 16.5 cm
Handle including ferrule: approx. 13.0 cm
Maximum blade height: approx. 4.8 cm
Two Classic Japanese Knife Forms in One Set

This lot combines two of the most recognizable specialized knives of traditional Japanese cuisine.

The Yanagiba is characterized by its long and slender blade, traditionally intended for precise slicing and long, smooth drawing cuts when preparing fish and sashimi.

The Deba, in contrast, features a shorter, broader and more robust blade, traditionally associated with fish preparation and heavier cutting tasks.

Together, the two knives illustrate the highly specialized nature of traditional Japanese kitchen cutlery, where different blade geometries evolved for specific culinary purposes.

Signed Blades & Traditional Wa Handles

Both knives retain their original Japanese character through their blade inscriptions and traditional wooden handles:

Yanagiba

Blade inscription: 関孫六 銀寿 – Seki Magoroku Ginju
Handle label: 関孫六 – Seki Magoroku

Deba

Blade inscription: 善定 – Zenjo

The combination of signed blades, traditional wooden handles, surviving label and visible traces of genuine use gives the set considerable character as vintage Japanese culinary equipment.

Authentic Unrestored Vintage Condition

These are genuinely used vintage Japanese kitchen knives, rather than newly manufactured or fully restored pieces.

They retain visible evidence of their previous use, sharpening and storage.

The knives have intentionally not been extensively polished or restored for this sale, allowing their next owner to decide whether to preserve their current patina or undertake further cleaning, sharpening and restoration.

For collectors and restoration enthusiasts, these traces of use form an important part of the knives' vintage character.

Condition – Please Read Carefully

Both knives are offered in used, 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
Sharpening wear and previous sharpening marks
Edge chipping
Chips or damage to the blade tips
Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
Wear and discoloration around the ferrules
Dirt, staining, scratches and wear on the wooden handles
Age-related wear to the Seki Magoroku handle label
Other signs consistent with prolonged use and storage

Please examine all photographs carefully, as the photographs form an important 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.

Depending on their intended use, they may require cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, correction of edge chips or tip damage, and maintenance of the handles and ferrules.

They are therefore particularly suitable for collectors of traditional Japanese knives, restoration enthusiasts and experienced knife users who are capable of carrying out their own cleaning, sharpening and maintenance.

Please bid only if you fully understand and accept their present vintage condition and are able to carry out the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.

All measurements are approximate and have been estimated from the measuring tape visible in the photograph.

A characterful pairing of a Seki Magoroku Ginju Yanagiba and a Zenjo Deba, combining two classic Japanese blade forms in one authentic vintage set—an appealing lot for collectors, Japanese culinary-tool enthusiasts and restoration-minded buyers.
■ 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.