Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和洋菜切り包丁 関鍛匠/本陣 本割込

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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:

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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 Nakiri Knife Set – “Seki Tansho / Made in Japan (関鍛匠 日本製)” & “Honjin Hon-Warikomi (本陣 本割込)” – Traditional Wa-Handle & Western-Handle Vegetable Knives

An interesting and highly characteristic pair of vintage Japanese Nakiri vegetable knives, combining two different styles of Japanese kitchen-knife construction: a traditional Wa-handled Nakiri and a Western-handled (Yo-handle) Nakiri.

Although both knives belong to the Japanese Nakiri tradition, their different handle constructions give the pair considerable visual and historical interest. Nakiri knives are characterized by their broad, relatively rectangular blades and are traditionally designed for efficient preparation of vegetables using direct chopping and push-cutting motions.

This set is particularly attractive for collectors because it presents two interpretations of the Japanese vegetable knife side by side: the simple, lightweight traditional wooden Wa handle on one knife and the riveted Western-style wooden handle on the other.

1. Traditional Japanese Nakiri – “Seki Tansho / Made in Japan” (関鍛匠 日本製)

The knife on the left is a classic Japanese-style Nakiri fitted with a traditional wooden Wa handle and black ferrule.

The broad rectangular blade, gently rounded forward corner and relatively straight cutting edge are characteristic of the Nakiri form developed for vegetable preparation.

The blade is marked:

関鍛匠
日本製

Seki Tansho / Made in Japan

The inscription explicitly identifies the knife as Japanese-made.

Its traditional Wa-handle construction gives it the unmistakable appearance of a classic Japanese household kitchen knife.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: approx. 30.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 17.0 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 5.0 cm
2. Western-Handle Nakiri – “Honjin Hon-Warikomi” (本陣 本割込)

The knife on the right offers an interesting contrast.

It retains the broad vegetable-knife blade profile associated with the Nakiri, but instead of a traditional inserted wooden Wa handle, it is fitted with a Western-style wooden handle secured with two metal rivets.

The blade is prominently marked:

本陣
本割込

Honjin / Hon-Warikomi

The term “Hon-Warikomi” (本割込) appearing on the blade is an important original marking and has therefore been retained in the description rather than making an unsupported claim about the exact steel composition.

Its dark wooden handle, two visible rivets and curved grip create a distinctly different appearance from the traditional Wa-handled knife beside it.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: approx. 27.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 15.5 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 4.3 cm

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

Two Styles of Japanese Nakiri in One Set

One of the most appealing aspects of this lot is the contrast between the two handle traditions.

The Seki Tansho uses a traditional Japanese Wa-style handle, while the Honjin uses a Western-style riveted handle. These two constructions represent distinctly different approaches to Japanese kitchen-knife design. Traditional Wa handles tend to be lighter and more blade-forward, while Western-style handles generally provide a heavier, more handle-oriented feel.

For a collector, this makes the pair more interesting than two nearly identical Nakiri knives: it provides a compact comparison of two different forms of Japanese cutlery construction.

Condition

These are genuine vintage, pre-owned Japanese kitchen knives and show clear signs of age and previous use.

Please expect:

Age-related dirt and staining
Rust and oxidation
Scratches and scuff marks
Surface wear and signs of repeated use
Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges
Dirt, scratches and wear around the ferrule area
Dirt, staining, scratches and wear on the wooden handles
General age-related deterioration and other imperfections consistent with vintage kitchen tools

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, as the photographs form an essential part of the description and show the actual condition of the items.

These knives should not be considered fully restored or immediately ready for use without maintenance. Depending on the buyer's intended use, cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, adjustment or other restoration work may be required.

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

With its combination of “Seki Tansho / Made in Japan” (関鍛匠 日本製) and “Honjin Hon-Warikomi” (本陣 本割込), this unusual pairing offers collectors, Japanese cutlery enthusiasts and restoration-minded cooks an appealing opportunity to acquire two contrasting styles of vintage Japanese Nakiri knife in a single lot.
■ 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.