Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 日本製万能・和菜切包丁 本割込鋼関孫六鎌倉/銘不明

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Vintage Japanese All-Purpose & Nakiri Knife Set – “Seki Magoroku Kamakura (本割込鋼 関孫六 鎌倉)” & Unidentified Maker – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives
An attractive and contrasting pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining a pointed all-purpose knife marked “本割込鋼 関孫六 鎌倉” with a traditional Wa-handled Nakiri vegetable knife of unidentified maker.
The two knives display distinctly different approaches to Japanese kitchen cutlery. The Seki Magoroku Kamakura features a versatile pointed blade together with a Western-style wooden handle secured by two metal rivets, while the Nakiri retains the classic broad rectangular blade and traditional wooden Wa handle.
Both knives show clear evidence of previous use and age, giving them the authentic character expected from vintage Japanese working kitchen tools.
1. All-Purpose Knife – “Seki Magoroku Kamakura” (本割込鋼 関孫六 鎌倉)
The knife on the left is a Japanese all-purpose kitchen knife, featuring a broad blade that gradually curves toward a pointed tip.
The blade carries the clearly visible markings:
本割込鋼
関孫六
鎌倉
Seki Magoroku – Kamakura
The inscription “本割込鋼” (Hon-Warikomi Hagane) is also an important part of the original blade marking.
For accuracy, this listing presents “本割込鋼” as the inscription found on this particular vintage knife and does not claim a specific steel grade or metallurgical composition without further documentation.
The current Seki Magoroku range is produced by Japanese cutlery manufacturer KAI, which continues to offer both Western-style and traditional Japanese knife lines. KAI also describes “Hon-Warikomi” construction within its current steel knife range. 貝印オンラインストア
Another notable feature is the handle. Unlike a conventional Wa handle, this knife has a dark wooden Western-style handle secured with two metal rivets, giving it a robust and distinctive appearance.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 31 cm
- Blade length: approx. 17 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 4.7 cm
2. Traditional Nakiri – Maker Unknown
The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Nakiri vegetable knife, distinguished by its tall, broad and almost rectangular blade.
This characteristic blade form provides a generous cutting surface and is traditionally associated with vegetable preparation.
Unlike the clearly marked Seki Magoroku knife, the maker of this Nakiri cannot be confidently identified, so no unsupported attribution is made.
The blade displays pronounced dark patina and visible traces of previous use, giving it a strong vintage appearance.
It is fitted with a traditional light-colored wooden Wa handle and a metallic ferrule, creating an interesting contrast with the Western-style handle of the Seki Magoroku knife.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 30 cm
- Blade length: approx. 17 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 5.2 cm
Please note: All dimensions are approximate estimates based on the measuring tape visible in the photograph. Slight differences from actual measurements should be expected.
Two Contrasting Japanese Kitchen-Knife Styles
A particularly interesting aspect of this set is the contrast between the two knives.
The Seki Magoroku Kamakura combines a pointed, versatile blade with a Western-style riveted wooden handle, while the Nakiri retains the broad rectangular blade and traditional Wa handle strongly associated with Japanese vegetable knives.
The left knife is especially appealing for its clearly preserved:
本割込鋼
関孫六
鎌倉
markings.
The Nakiri, although its maker remains unidentified, has a visually distinctive aged blade surface with pronounced patina and the traditional simplicity of a wooden Wa handle.
Together, they make an interesting pair illustrating two very different forms of Japanese kitchen cutlery.
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
- Dirt and scratches around the ferrule
- Dents and misalignment around the ferrule area
- Dirt and signs of use on the wooden handles
- 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.
In particular, the Nakiri shows substantial dark patina and surface discoloration consistent with its aged 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, ferrule and wooden handles.
These are vintage working knives rather than fully restored or maintenance-free modern knives. Depending on their condition and intended use, cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, ferrule adjustment and other maintenance or restoration work may be required.
Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the vintage condition—including the rust, edge chipping, scratches and ferrule damage/misalignment—and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself.
With the clearly marked “本割込鋼 関孫六 鎌倉” all-purpose knife and the strongly aged traditional Wa-handled Nakiri, this is an appealing pair for collectors of vintage Japanese cutlery, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, and admirers of traditional Japanese kitchen 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.

● 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
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● important notice for italy
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● 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.

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● 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.