Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 日本製伝統的和柳刃・菜切り包丁 堺寶山別打/銘不明

● 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.

***

Vintage Japanese Yanagiba & Kuro-uchi Nakiri Knife Set – “Sakai Hozan Betsuuchi” (堺寶山別打) & Unidentified Maker – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

Offered here is a distinctive pair of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, combining a long, elegant Yanagiba sashimi knife bearing the inscription “堺寶山別打” (Sakai Hozan Betsuuchi) and a broad, traditional Nakiri vegetable knife with an attractive dark-finished blade.

The Yanagiba on the left features a Japanese inscription on its blade and the matching “堺宝山” (Sakai Hozan) branding on its wooden handle.

The Nakiri on the right has no reliably identifiable maker's inscription. Its most striking feature is the broad blade with a dark, rustic-looking surface contrasting with the brighter sharpened cutting-edge area.

Both knives retain traditional wooden Wa handles with metal ferrules and display the distinctive character of vintage Japanese culinary tools.

The combination of two contrasting blade forms, surviving Japanese markings and visible traces of previous use makes this set particularly interesting for collectors, sharpening enthusiasts and those who appreciate traditional Japanese knife restoration.

1. Yanagiba Sashimi Knife – “堺寶山別打” (Sakai Hozan Betsuuchi)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, characterized by its long, slender blade and sharply pointed tip.

Yanagiba knives are traditionally associated with the preparation of sashimi and sushi. Their elongated blades are designed to allow smooth, continuous drawing cuts through fish, helping produce clean and precise slices.

The blade bears the Japanese inscription:

堺寶山別打

Sakai Hozan Betsuuchi

The inscription includes “堺” (Sakai), referring to the historic Japanese knife-making center in Osaka Prefecture.

Sakai has a long-established reputation for producing traditional Japanese kitchen knives, particularly specialized knives used in professional Japanese cuisine.

The characters “寶山” (Hozan) form the name appearing on the blade, while “別打” (Betsuuchi) is a traditional cutlery designation that can be interpreted as “Special Forging” or “Specially Made.”

The inscription is presented as a surviving marking on the knife; it does not independently establish the exact manufacturing process, steel composition or production date.

The traditional wooden Wa handle also retains a clearly visible branded marking:

堺宝山

Sakai Hozan

The use of the traditional character “寶” on the blade and the modern character “宝” on the handle is particularly interesting.

Both forms are associated with the same Japanese word, Hozan, and the presence of these corresponding inscriptions is an attractive identifying feature of this vintage knife.

The Yanagiba is fitted with a dark wooden handle and a silver-colored metal ferrule.

Its long, slender blade retains visible scratches, oxidation, wear and other traces of previous use, contributing to its unmistakable vintage appearance.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: 36 cm

Blade length: 23 cm

Maximum blade width: 3.0 cm

2. Traditional Kuro-uchi Nakiri Vegetable Knife – Unidentified Maker

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Nakiri, immediately recognizable by its broad, tall blade and relatively straight cutting edge.

Nakiri knives have long been used in Japanese kitchens for vegetable preparation, including slicing, chopping and finely cutting ingredients.

The most striking feature of this knife is its dark blade surface, which covers much of the blade and contrasts strongly with the brighter, sharpened area along the cutting edge.

This type of dark appearance is commonly associated with Kuro-uchi-style finishes found on traditional Japanese knives.

The contrast between the dark upper blade and the lighter cutting-edge area gives this Nakiri a particularly rustic and characterful appearance.

No maker's inscription can be reliably identified on this example. It is therefore accurately described as:

Maker / Inscription: Unidentified

No unsupported attribution is made to a particular maker, workshop or production region.

The knife is fitted with a light-colored traditional wooden Wa handle and a silver-colored metal ferrule.

The broad blade, dark surface and simple traditional handle design make this an interesting example of an older Japanese vegetable knife.

Approximate Dimensions

Overall length: 31 cm

Blade length: 17 cm

Maximum blade width: 5.8 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 Traditional Japanese Knife Forms

This lot brings together two very different traditional Japanese blade profiles.

The approximately 23 cm Yanagiba has a long, slender blade designed for drawing cuts, while the approximately 17 cm Nakiri features a tall, broad blade traditionally associated with vegetable preparation.

Their contrasting appearances are equally appealing.

Yanagiba – Left

Blade inscription: 堺寶山別打

Romanized identification: Sakai Hozan Betsuuchi

Wooden handle branding: 堺宝山

Long, slender blade with pointed tip

Dark wooden Wa handle

Silver-colored metal ferrule

Nakiri – Right

Maker: Unidentified

Broad, rectangular blade

Distinctive dark Kuro-uchi-style surface

Contrasting brighter cutting-edge area

Light-colored wooden Wa handle

Silver-colored metal ferrule

The surviving Sakai Hozan markings on the Yanagiba and the rustic dark appearance of the Nakiri give this pair two different kinds of vintage Japanese character.

The knives retain visible traces of age and previous use, making them appealing to enthusiasts who appreciate traditional Japanese working knives in their present condition.

Condition – Important Information for Bidders

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

Their condition includes:

Age-related dirt, staining and discoloration

Rust and oxidation

Scratches, rubbing marks and scuffs on the blades

Chipping or damage to the blade tips

Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges

Wear from age and previous use

Dirt and scratches around the ferrules

Dents and misalignment around the ferrule areas

Dirt and signs of previous use on the wooden handles

Other age-related and use-related imperfections

The knives are offered in their present vintage condition and may require cleaning, sharpening and restoration.

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, wooden handles, inscriptions and branded markings.

These are vintage working knives rather than fully restored or maintenance-free modern kitchen knives.

Depending on their present condition and intended use, cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, adjustment or repair of the ferrule and handle areas, and other restoration work may be necessary before practical use.

Traditional Japanese wooden handles are replaceable components. Age-related drying, shrinkage, looseness or cracking may require adjustment, repair or replacement.

Please bid only if you fully understand and accept the vintage condition—including dirt, rust, scratches, tip damage, edge chipping, wear, ferrule dents and misalignment, and handle wear—and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning, sharpening and repair or restoration yourself.

An Appealing Pair for Collectors and Restoration Enthusiasts

With the “Sakai Hozan Betsuuchi” (堺寶山別打) Yanagiba, retaining its corresponding “堺宝山” handle branding, and the broad, dark-finished Nakiri of unidentified maker, this set offers an attractive combination of traditional Japanese knife forms and vintage character.

An interesting pair for collectors of Japanese cutlery, sharpening and restoration enthusiasts, and admirers of traditional Japanese culinary craftsmanship.
■ 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.