Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 伝統的和柳刃・菜切包丁 丸二秘造/土佐丸中特製

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## Vintage Japanese Yanagiba & Nakiri Knife Set – “Maru-ni-Ni Hizo” (丸に二 秘造) & “Tosa Maru-ni-Naka Tokusei” (土佐 丸に中 特製) – Tosa Ittosai Handle Branding – Traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives

Offered here is a distinctive set of **two vintage Japanese kitchen knives**, combining a long, elegant Yanagiba sashimi knife with a broad, dark-finished Nakiri vegetable knife.

Both knives retain Japanese inscriptions and traditional wooden Wa handles, reflecting the specialized forms and distinctive visual character of Japanese culinary cutlery.

The Yanagiba on the left bears the inscription **“丸に二 秘造”**, featuring an emblem with the character 二 enclosed in a circle and the wording 秘造.

The Nakiri on the right bears the inscription **“土佐 丸に中 特製”**, while its wooden handle retains the prominent branded marking **“土佐一刀斎之作” (Tosa Ittosai no Saku)**.

Of particular interest is the reference to **Tosa**, the historic name associated with present-day Kochi Prefecture, a region renowned for its traditional forged blades.

The combination of contrasting blade shapes, surviving Japanese markings, a dark Kuro-uchi-style surface and visible signs of age makes this an appealing pair for collectors, sharpening enthusiasts and those interested in restoring vintage Japanese knives.

### 1. Traditional Yanagiba Sashimi Knife – “丸に二 秘造”

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

Yanagiba knives are closely associated with Japanese culinary traditions, particularly the preparation of sashimi and sushi.

Their elongated blades are designed for smooth drawing cuts through fish, allowing ingredients to be sliced in a controlled motion.

This example features a narrow, gently tapering blade, a traditional wooden Wa handle and a black ferrule.

The blade bears the Japanese inscription:

**丸に二 秘造**

The marking consists of:

- **丸に二 (Maru-ni-Ni):** An emblem featuring the character 二 enclosed in a circle
- **秘造 (Hizo):** A traditional expression suggesting a specially made or carefully prepared product

The circular emblem is a particularly interesting identifying detail, giving the knife an individual appearance.

The expression **“秘造”** is reproduced as an inscription and should not be taken as independent verification of a particular forging method or manufacturing process.

The blade has a relatively bright steel surface with visible grinding and polishing marks, along with age-related discoloration and scratches.

Its long, elegant silhouette contrasts attractively with the broader Nakiri included in this set.

**Approximate Dimensions**

- Overall length: **36 cm**
- Blade length: **21 cm**
- Maximum blade width: **2.7 cm**

### 2. Traditional Tosa Nakiri Vegetable Knife – “土佐 丸に中 特製”

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

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

The tall blade profile is characteristic of traditional Japanese vegetable knives.

This example has a distinctive **dark-finished blade surface**, contrasting with the lighter cutting-edge area.

Its appearance resembles traditional **Kuro-uchi-style Japanese cutlery**, where a dark surface is retained above the sharpened portion of the blade.

The dark finish, visible scratches and oxidation give the knife a particularly rustic vintage appearance.

The blade bears the Japanese inscription:

**土佐 丸に中 特製**

This marking includes:

- **土佐 (Tosa):** The historical name associated with Kochi Prefecture
- **丸に中 (Maru-ni-Naka):** An emblem featuring the character 中 enclosed in a circle
- **特製 (Tokusei):** Specially Made / Special Product

The circular emblem and the traditional wording are interesting surviving details of Japanese knife branding.

The wooden Wa handle bears an additional branded marking:

**土佐一刀斎之作**

**Tosa Ittosai no Saku**

This may be translated approximately as **“Made by Tosa Ittosai”** or **“A Work of Tosa Ittosai.”**

The marking is a distinctive feature of this knife, preserving a traditional maker-style name on the handle.

The blade inscription and handle branding are recorded separately. Their presence does not independently establish the identity of the individual blacksmith or the precise production date.

The knife is fitted with a traditional wooden handle and a black ferrule.

**Approximate Dimensions**

- Overall length: **33 cm**
- Blade length: **17 cm**
- Maximum blade width: **5.2 cm**

*All dimensions are approximate estimates based on the measuring tape visible in the photograph. Minor differences from actual measurements should be expected.*

### The Traditional Blade-Making Heritage of Tosa

One of the most interesting aspects of this set is the Nakiri's association with the name **Tosa**.

Tosa is the historical name of the region corresponding to present-day Kochi Prefecture on the island of Shikoku.

The region has a long tradition of producing forged blades, including agricultural tools, forestry blades and kitchen knives.

Traditional **Tosa Uchihamono** cutlery is particularly associated with practical blade designs and the skills of Japanese blacksmiths.

The history of Tosa blade-making extends back several centuries, and the region remains recognized for its traditional cutlery industry.

The inscription **“土佐”** and the handle branding **“土佐一刀斎之作”** therefore provide an interesting connection to this historic blade-making tradition.

However, these markings alone do not establish that this individual knife meets any particular modern certification standard or that it was manufactured by a verified workshop.

### Two Contrasting Traditional Japanese Knife Designs

This set brings together two distinctly different forms of Japanese kitchen knives.

The Yanagiba is characterized by its long, narrow blade, traditionally associated with slicing fish for sashimi.

The Nakiri features a broad, rectangular blade traditionally associated with vegetable preparation.

**Yanagiba – Left**

- Type: Traditional Japanese Yanagiba sashimi knife
- Blade inscription: **丸に二 秘造**
- Circular emblem containing the character **二**
- Long, slender pointed blade
- Traditional wooden Wa handle
- Black ferrule

**Nakiri – Right**

- Type: Traditional Japanese Nakiri vegetable knife
- Blade inscription: **土佐 丸に中 特製**
- Circular emblem containing the character **中**
- Handle branding: **土佐一刀斎之作**
- Broad, rectangular blade
- Dark Kuro-uchi-style surface
- Traditional wooden Wa handle
- Black ferrule

The contrasting blade profiles and distinctive Japanese markings make this a particularly appealing pair of vintage kitchen knives.

### 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
- Chips and imperfections along the cutting edges
- Chipping or damage to the blade tips
- Dirt and scratches around the ferrules
- 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.

**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 and Japanese markings.

These are not fully restored or maintenance-free modern kitchen knives.

Depending on their condition and intended use, **cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, ferrule or handle adjustment, and other maintenance or 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, edge chipping, tip damage, ferrule imperfections and handle wear—and are personally capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning and sharpening.**

Buyers should also be prepared to undertake any additional repairs or restoration required by the knives' condition.

### An Appealing Pair for Collectors and Restoration Enthusiasts

With the elegant **“丸に二 秘造” Yanagiba** and the dark-finished **“土佐 丸に中 特製” Nakiri**, retaining its distinctive **“土佐一刀斎之作”** handle branding, this set offers an attractive combination of traditional Japanese blade designs and surviving vintage markings.

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.

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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.

● international situation - shipping limitations
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● important notice for italy
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● no combined shipping
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● shipping method and delivery time
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