Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和出刃・菜切り包丁 堺元亀/特撰勝弘

● 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
- France
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Portugal

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 – “Motokame (元亀)” & “Tokusen Katsuhiro (特撰勝弘)” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

An appealing pair of authentic vintage Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a traditional Deba and Nakiri, both bearing distinctive Japanese maker's markings and showing the character of well-used traditional culinary tools.

This set brings together two classic Japanese blade forms with very different functions: a substantial, pointed Deba, traditionally used for breaking down and preparing fish, and a broad, rectangular Nakiri, a classic Japanese vegetable knife.

Both knives remain in unrestored vintage condition, retaining visible traces of age, repeated use, sharpening, and long-term storage. They offer considerable potential for collectors as well as enthusiasts who enjoy sharpening and restoring traditional Japanese kitchen knives.

1. Deba – Motokame (元亀)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba, characterized by its broad, substantial blade, pronounced curved profile, and pointed tip.

Deba knives are traditionally used in Japanese cuisine for breaking down and preparing fish. The strong blade profile gives this knife a very different character from the rectangular Nakiri included in the set.

The blade bears the inscription:

元亀 – Motokame

The wooden handle is also clearly branded:

登録商標 堺元亀 – Registered Trademark Sakai Motokame

The combination of the blade inscription and the branded wooden handle provides particularly attractive identification and vintage character. The same combination of “元亀” and “登録商標 堺元亀” can also be seen on another documented vintage example.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: approx. 30 cm
Blade length: approx. 17 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5.0 cm
2. Nakiri – Tokusen Katsuhiro (特撰勝弘)

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

The Nakiri is one of the characteristic traditional Japanese vegetable-knife forms. Its broad blade creates a striking visual contrast with the pointed profile of the Deba.

The blade bears the inscription:

特撰勝弘 – Tokusen Katsuhiro

“特撰” (Tokusen) literally conveys the sense of “Special Selection” / “Specially Selected,” while “勝弘” is the maker/brand name Katsuhiro.

The blade retains a pronounced darkened surface and visible traces of sharpening and use, giving it the unmistakable appearance of an older Japanese working knife.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: approx. 30 cm
Blade length: approx. 17 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5.0 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 repeated 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, and signs of use on the wooden handles
Other age-related 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 or maintenance-free modern kitchen knives. Depending on the intended use and personal preference, cleaning, sharpening, adjustment, or other maintenance/restoration work may be necessary.

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 distinctive combination of a Motokame (元亀) Deba with “Registered Trademark Sakai Motokame” (登録商標 堺元亀) branded handle and a Tokusen Katsuhiro (特撰勝弘) Nakiri offers an interesting opportunity for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, chefs, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, and admirers of traditional Japanese culinary 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.