Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和万能・菜切包丁 〇三/登録宏元 日本鋼

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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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Vintage Japanese All-Purpose & Nakiri Knife Set – Unidentified “〇に三” Mark & “Registered Hiromoto-saku (登録宏元作) / 日本鋼” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives
An interesting pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining a pointed all-purpose Japanese knife with a large, broad-bladed Nakiri vegetable knife.
Both knives retain Japanese inscriptions and traditional wooden Wa handles, while their visibly aged surfaces and traces of previous use give them the distinctive character of genuine vintage working kitchen tools.
The knife on the left bears a distinctive “〇に三” (three-line symbol within a circle) mark, with additional Japanese characters beneath it. The lower inscription is worn and difficult to read with confidence, so no unsupported maker attribution is made.
The large Nakiri on the right is marked:
登録宏元作
and the reverse side bears:
日本鋼
The wooden handle also shows the remains of an old label, another interesting detail preserved from its previous working life.
1. Japanese All-Purpose Knife – “〇に三” Mark / Maker Unidentified
The knife on the left has a versatile pointed blade profile, combining a relatively broad heel with a gradually narrowing, upward-curving blade and pointed tip.
It is a practical traditional Japanese all-purpose form suitable for a variety of general kitchen preparation tasks.
The blade bears a clearly visible distinctive mark:
〇に三
Below this symbol is an additional vertically engraved Japanese inscription. However, the characters have become difficult to distinguish due to age, wear and the condition of the blade.
For this reason, the maker's name is intentionally left unidentified rather than presenting an uncertain reading as fact.
This knife is fitted with a traditional wooden Wa handle and black ferrule.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 31 cm
- Blade length: approx. 17 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 4.0 cm
2. Nakiri Vegetable Knife – “Registered Hiromoto-saku” (登録宏元作) / “日本鋼”
The knife on the right is a substantial traditional Japanese Nakiri, immediately recognizable by its tall, rectangular blade and broad cutting profile.
Nakiri knives are traditional Japanese vegetable knives. Their broad, relatively flat-edged blade geometry is particularly suited to straight and push-cutting motions through vegetables. Japanese Knife Lab
The blade bears the inscription:
登録宏元作
The reverse side is marked:
日本鋼
Japanese Steel
“日本鋼” is presented here exactly as the original blade marking. No specific steel grade or metallurgical composition is claimed solely on the basis of this inscription.
The wooden Wa handle also retains visible remnants of an old label, although the original label is no longer complete enough to identify its full wording.
The tall rectangular blade, traditional wooden handle, Japanese inscriptions and surviving label trace give this Nakiri a particularly attractive vintage appearance.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 33 cm
- Blade length: approx. 18 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 5.3 cm
All measurements are approximate estimates based on the measuring tape visible in the photograph. Slight differences from actual measurements should be expected.
Two Distinctive Vintage Japanese Knife Forms
An appealing feature of this lot is the contrast between the two knives.
The left knife has a pointed, versatile profile suitable for general kitchen preparation, while the right knife has the tall rectangular profile of a traditional Nakiri, a knife form developed specifically for vegetable preparation. Japanese Knife Lab
The left knife is particularly interesting for its unusual “〇に三” mark and partially illegible Japanese inscription, while the Nakiri combines the “登録宏元作” inscription with the “日本鋼” marking on the reverse.
Together with their traditional wooden Wa handles, black ferrules, surviving label trace and visible signs of long-term use, these details give the set considerable vintage Japanese character.
Condition
These are vintage, pre-owned Japanese kitchen knives and show clear signs of age, previous use and sharpening.
Condition includes:
- Age-related dirt and staining
- Rust / oxidation
- Scratches and scuff marks on the blades
- Tip chipping / damage
- Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges
- Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
- Dirt and signs of use on the wooden handles
- Age-related deterioration / remnants of the old handle label
- Other age- and use-related imperfections
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, cutting edges, tips, ferrules, handles, inscriptions and surviving label remains.
These are vintage working knives rather than fully restored or maintenance-free modern kitchen knives. Depending on their intended use, cleaning, sharpening and other maintenance or restoration work may be required.
Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the vintage condition, including the rust, tip damage and edge chipping, and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.
The combination of the unusual “〇に三” marked all-purpose knife and the substantial “登録宏元作 / 日本鋼” Nakiri, together with their traditional Wa handles and visible traces of age and use, makes this an appealing pair for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, 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.

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buyer must respond to customs requests promptly. failure may result in delay, return, confiscation, or destruction of parcel.

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● 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.