Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和万能・小柳刃包丁 銘不明別打/登録茂次

● 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 All-Purpose & Ko-Yanagiba Knife Set – “Betsuuchi (別打)” & “Tokusei / Registered Shigeji (特製 / 登録茂次)” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

An interesting pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a traditional Japanese all-purpose knife and a compact Ko-Yanagiba (small sashimi slicing knife).

The two knives offer distinctly different blade profiles and functions: the larger knife on the left has a broad, versatile blade suitable for general kitchen preparation, while the smaller knife on the right has the narrow, elongated profile associated with Japanese slicing knives.

Both knives retain the characteristic appearance, patina and signs of use expected from genuine vintage Japanese kitchen tools.

1. Japanese All-Purpose Knife – “Betsuuchi” (別打) – Maker Unknown

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese all-purpose kitchen knife (Banno / multipurpose type).

Its relatively broad blade, gently curved cutting profile and pointed upper section create a versatile form suitable for a variety of general food-preparation tasks.

The blade bears the inscription:

別打 – Betsuuchi

“Betsuuchi” is visible on the blade, but the actual maker's name cannot be identified with confidence. For this reason, the knife is conservatively described as maker unknown, without making an unsupported attribution.

The knife is fitted with a traditional Japanese wooden Wa handle and metal ferrule, giving it the characteristic appearance of an older Japanese working kitchen knife.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: approx. 30 cm
Blade length: approx. 17.5 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 4.5 cm
2. Ko-Yanagiba / Small Yanagiba – “Tokusei” (特製) / “Registered Shigeji” (登録茂次)

The knife on the right is a compact Japanese slicing knife with the long, narrow and pointed blade profile associated with the Yanagiba tradition.

Because of its relatively short blade compared with a standard full-size Yanagiba, it is described here as a Ko-Yanagiba / Small Yanagiba.

The blade bears the inscription:

特製 – Tokusei / Specially Made

The wooden handle also retains a branded mark reading:

登録 茂次 – Registered Shigeji

This surviving handle marking adds considerable character to the knife and provides an interesting detail of its original Japanese manufacture and branding.

Its compact proportions make it an unusual companion to the much broader all-purpose knife in this set.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: approx. 25 cm
Blade length: approx. 12.5 cm
Maximum blade width: approx. 2.7 cm

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

Two Contrasting Traditional Japanese Knife Forms

One of the attractions of this lot is the clear contrast between the two blade shapes.

The larger all-purpose knife provides a broad working blade suitable for general preparation, while the slender Ko-Yanagiba reflects the Japanese slicing-knife tradition. Traditional Yanagiba knives are designed around a long, narrow blade intended to produce clean slices of fish with a drawing motion.

Together, the two knives provide an appealing example of the diversity found in traditional Japanese kitchen cutlery.

Condition

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

Please expect:

Age-related dirt and staining
Scratches and scuff marks
Surface wear and sharpening marks
Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges
Chipping / damage to the blade tips
Dirt and staining around the ferrules
Scratches and wear around the ferrules
Misalignment and dents around the ferrule areas
Dirt, staining and signs of use on the wooden handles
Other age- and use-related marks and imperfections

These 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. Cleaning, sharpening, adjustment and/or restoration may be required before use.

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

This unusual combination of a “Betsuuchi” (別打) Japanese all-purpose knife and a compact “Tokusei / Registered Shigeji” (特製 / 登録茂次) Ko-Yanagiba offers an interesting opportunity for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, professional cooks and admirers of traditional 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.