Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・菜切包丁 丸虎星/源秀兼作

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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:

- Austria
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- Finland
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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 Yanagiba & Nakiri Knife Set – “Marutora-boshi (丸虎星)” & “源秀兼作” – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives
An appealing pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining two distinctly different traditional Japanese blade forms: a long and slender Yanagiba and a broad Nakiri vegetable knife.
Both knives retain Japanese inscriptions and traditional wooden Wa handles. The Yanagiba is particularly interesting for the combination of its “丸虎星” blade inscription and the surviving gold-colored “三木特産 丸虎別製” marking on the wooden handle.
The Nakiri bears the inscription “源秀兼作” and has the broad, almost rectangular blade profile characteristic of traditional Japanese vegetable knives.
Visible signs of age, previous use and sharpening remain throughout both knives, giving the pair the authentic appearance and character of vintage Japanese working kitchen tools.
1. Yanagiba – “丸虎星” / Handle Marked “三木特産 丸虎別製”
The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, characterized by its long, narrow blade and pointed tip.
The Yanagiba is one of the classic Japanese knives associated with sashimi preparation. Its elongated blade is designed to make long drawing cuts through prepared fish rather than short back-and-forth cutting motions. Japanese Knife Lab
The blade bears the inscription:
丸虎星
The dark wooden Wa handle also retains an attractive gold-colored marking reading:
三木特産
丸虎 別製
The wording “三木特産” is particularly interesting as a surviving part of the knife's original identification. For accuracy, this listing reproduces the Japanese markings as found rather than making an unsupported attribution regarding the precise maker, workshop or production date.
The dark wooden handle, black ferrule, blade inscription and surviving gold marking combine to give this Yanagiba strong vintage character.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 34 cm
- Blade length: approx. 21 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 2.8 cm
2. Nakiri Vegetable Knife – “源秀兼作”
The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Nakiri, immediately recognizable by its broad, tall and almost rectangular blade.
Nakiri knives are traditional Japanese vegetable knives. Their broad blade and relatively flat cutting profile are particularly well suited to straight downward and push-cutting motions when preparing vegetables. Japanese Knife Lab
The blade bears the Japanese inscription:
源秀兼作
Because the exact reading and historical attribution of this inscription have not been independently verified, the original Japanese characters are used as the authoritative identification in this listing.
The knife is fitted with a traditional wooden Wa handle and black ferrule.
The blade has developed pronounced surface wear, discoloration and patina through age and previous use, giving it a distinctly vintage appearance.
Approximate dimensions:
- Overall length: approx. 30 cm
- Blade length: approx. 17 cm
- Maximum blade width: approx. 4.8 cm
Please note: All measurements are approximate estimates based on the measuring tape visible in the photograph. Slight differences from actual measurements should be expected.
Two Contrasting Traditional Japanese Knife Forms
One of the most appealing features of this lot is the contrast between the two knives.
The Yanagiba has a long and narrow blade traditionally associated with drawing cuts for sashimi, while the Nakiri has a broad, rectangular profile associated with vegetable preparation. Japanese Knife Lab
The Yanagiba is particularly distinctive for its:
“丸虎星” blade inscription
and
“三木特産 丸虎別製” handle marking
while the Nakiri carries the:
“源秀兼作”
blade inscription.
Their contrasting blade shapes, traditional Wa handles, Japanese inscriptions and visible traces of long-term use make this an interesting pair for anyone who appreciates older Japanese culinary tools.
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
- Chipping / damage to the blade tips
- Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
- Dirt and signs of use on the wooden handles
- Chipping / damage to the wooden handles
- Age-related wear to the surviving handle marking
- 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 and inscriptions.
These are vintage working knives rather than fully restored or maintenance-free modern kitchen knives. Depending on their condition and intended use, cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, handle repair and other restoration or maintenance work may be required.
Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the vintage condition—including the rust, scratches, edge chipping, tip damage and handle damage—and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning, sharpening and repair work yourself.
With the “丸虎星” Yanagiba retaining its “三木特産 丸虎別製” handle marking and the broad “源秀兼作” Nakiri, this is 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.

● 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.