Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和出刃・菜切り包丁 堺菊守極上/三木章作

● 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
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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 Deba & Nakiri Knife Set – “Sakai Kikumori Gokujo (極上堺菊守)” & “Miki Akira-saku (三木章作)” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

An impressive pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a traditional Deba and Nakiri, both bearing distinctive Japanese maker’s markings and retaining attractive original details.

The set combines two classic forms of Japanese kitchen cutlery: the substantial, pointed Deba, traditionally used for breaking down and preparing fish, and the broad, rectangular Nakiri, a traditional Japanese vegetable knife.

Particularly noteworthy is the Deba by Sakai Kikumori, which carries the “Gokujo” (極上 / Superior Grade) designation and retains both a buffalo-horn-handle marking and an original Sakai Kikumori trade-mark label.

Both knives remain in genuine, unrestored vintage condition and display the patina and signs of long-term professional or domestic use that give old Japanese kitchen knives their distinctive character.

1. Deba – Sakai Kikumori Gokujo (極上堺菊守)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba, with a broad, substantial blade and strongly defined pointed profile.

Deba knives are traditionally associated with fish preparation and are among the most recognizable specialized knife forms used in Japanese cuisine.

The blade bears the inscription:

極上 堺菊守 – Gokujo Sakai Kikumori

The reverse side is additionally marked:

極上 – Gokujo / Superior Grade

The ferrule area retains a label reading:

本水牛柄 S.K.K

indicating a genuine buffalo-horn handle/ferrule specification.

The wooden handle also retains an attractive gold-and-red label reading:

TRADE MARK 堺菊守 – Sakai Kikumori

These surviving markings and labels give the knife particularly strong vintage character.

Sakai Kikumori is the kitchen-knife brand of Kawamura Hamono in Sakai, Osaka. The manufacturer's current “Gokujo” traditional Japanese knife series likewise uses buffalo-horn handles and is described as a hon-kasumi-finished professional knife series.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: approx. 30.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 16.5 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5.0 cm
2. Nakiri – Miki Akira-saku (三木章作)

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Nakiri, immediately recognizable by its tall, broad, rectangular blade and relatively straight cutting edge.

Nakiri knives are traditional Japanese vegetable knives. Their broad blade profile makes them visually and functionally very different from the heavier, pointed Deba included in this set.

The blade bears the maker's inscription:

三木章作 – Miki Akira-saku

The wooden handle is also branded:

三木章作

giving the knife matching identification on both the blade and handle.

The blade displays pronounced dark patina, oxidation, rust, scratches, and evidence of previous sharpening and long-term use, giving it the unmistakable appearance of a genuine vintage Japanese working knife.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: approx. 30 cm
Blade length: approx. 17 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5.2 cm

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

Condition

These are genuine vintage, pre-owned Japanese kitchen knives and show considerable signs of age, previous use, sharpening, and long-term storage.

Please note the following condition issues:

Age-related dirt and staining
Rust and oxidation
Scratches and scuff marks on the blades
Wear from age, use, and previous sharpening
Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges
Chipping / damage to the blade tips
Dirt and staining around the ferrules
Scratches and misalignment around the ferrule areas
Dirt, staining, wear, and other signs of use on the wooden handles
Age-related wear and deterioration to the surviving labels
Other marks and imperfections consistent with vintage used kitchen knives

The knives have not been fully cleaned, polished, restored, or professionally sharpened and are offered in their present vintage condition.

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

These are not fully restored, maintenance-free modern kitchen knives. Cleaning, sharpening, adjustment, or restoration may be required before use.

Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the above vintage condition and are capable of cleaning and sharpening the knives yourself as necessary.

This is an appealing combination of a Gokujo Sakai Kikumori Deba, retaining its “本水牛柄 S.K.K” marking and original “TRADE MARK 堺菊守” label, together with a Miki Akira-saku Nakiri, whose maker's name appears on both the blade and wooden handle.

An interesting set for collectors of traditional Japanese cutlery, chefs, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates authentic vintage Japanese kitchen tools.
■ 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.