Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和薄刃・アジ切包丁 堺登録菊虎特上/義久木屋

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Vintage Japanese Usuba & Aji-kiri Knife Set – “Sakai Kikutora Tokujo (堺登録菊虎特上)” & “Yoshihisa Kiya (義久木屋)” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives
An attractive and characterful pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining a large traditional Usuba vegetable knife with a compact Aji-kiri fish knife.
Both knives bear clearly visible Japanese inscriptions and retain old labels on their traditional wooden Wa handles, adding considerable period character to the set.
The large Usuba on the left is marked:
堺登録 菊虎 特上
and retains a “堺菊虎” handle label, together with an old caution label reading:
冷凍食品やかたい骨にはご使用にならないで下さい
— “Do not use on frozen foods or hard bones.”
The compact Aji-kiri on the right is marked:
義久 木屋
and also retains a “義久木屋” label on the wooden handle.
The dramatic difference in size and blade geometry—from the tall, rectangular Usuba to the short, pointed Aji-kiri—makes this a visually appealing pair representing two very different specialized Japanese knife forms.
1. Usuba Vegetable Knife – “Sakai Registered Kikutora Tokujo” (堺登録菊虎特上)
The knife on the left is a substantial traditional Japanese Usuba, characterized by its tall, rectangular blade and long, relatively straight cutting profile.
The Usuba is a specialized Japanese vegetable knife traditionally associated with precise vegetable preparation, including fine slicing and decorative work. Japanese Knife Lab
The blade bears the inscription:
堺登録 菊虎 特上
The “特上” (Tokujo) wording is part of the original blade inscription and may be understood as a grade designation such as “special/superior grade.” It is reproduced here as an original marking rather than as an independent guarantee of present-day condition or performance.
The wooden Wa handle retains a colorful “堺菊虎” label.
At the end of the handle there is also an original caution label reading:
冷凍食品やかたい骨にはご使用にならないで下さい
meaning:
“Please do not use on frozen foods or hard bones.”
The survival of both the maker/brand label and the original usage-warning label is an interesting detail that adds considerably to the knife's vintage presentation.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 33 cm
- Blade length: approx. 18.5 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 5.0 cm
2. Aji-kiri Knife – “Yoshihisa Kiya” (義久木屋)
The knife on the right is a compact traditional Japanese Aji-kiri, recognizable by its short, pointed blade and small Deba-like proportions.
Aji-kiri knives are essentially compact relatives of the Deba and are traditionally intended for processing smaller fish. Atelier DOMA
The blade bears the inscription:
義久 木屋
The traditional wooden Wa handle also retains a partially worn “義久木屋” label, providing another attractive surviving vintage detail.
Its compact dimensions contrast strongly with the tall Usuba and make this pair particularly interesting as a representation of two highly different Japanese culinary tools.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 24.5 cm
- Blade length: approx. 11.5 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 3.5 cm
All measurements are approximate and have been estimated from the measuring tape visible in the photograph. Slight variations should be expected.
Two Specialized Traditional Japanese Knife Forms
This set brings together two specialized Japanese knives developed for very different types of preparation.
The tall Usuba is associated primarily with precise vegetable work, while the much smaller Aji-kiri is a compact Deba-style knife traditionally used for preparing small fish. Japanese Knife Lab
The Usuba is especially attractive for its combination of the “堺登録菊虎特上” blade inscription, surviving “堺菊虎” handle label and original warning label.
The Aji-kiri complements it with its “義久木屋” blade inscription and matching surviving handle label.
Together, the Japanese inscriptions, traditional wooden Wa handles, black ferrules, surviving labels and contrasting blade shapes give this set a strong and authentic vintage Japanese character.
Condition
These are vintage, pre-owned Japanese kitchen knives and show clear signs of age and previous use.
Condition includes:
- Age-related dirt and staining
- Rust / oxidation
- Scratches and scuff marks on the blades
- Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges
- Tip chipping / damage
- Wear from previous use and sharpening
- Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
- Dirt and signs of use on the wooden handles
- Age-related wear to the surviving labels
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 blades, ferrules, handles and labels.
These are vintage working knives rather than fully restored modern kitchen knives. Cleaning, sharpening and other maintenance or restoration may therefore be required depending on the buyer's intended use.
Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the vintage condition, including the edge and tip damage, and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.
With the combination of the large “Sakai Registered Kikutora Tokujo (堺登録菊虎特上)” Usuba and compact “Yoshihisa Kiya (義久木屋)” Aji-kiri, together with their surviving period labels, this is an appealing pair for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, and admirers of traditional Japanese culinary tools.
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● 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.

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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.

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● 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.

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