Kitchen knife - Steel, Wood - Japan - 日本製伝統的和出刃・柳刃包丁 関孫六銀寿/瑞鷹作

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, and Portugal.

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 Deba and Yanagiba Kitchen Knife Set – "関孫六 銀寿" (Seki Magoroku Ginju) / "瑞鷹作" (Zuitaka-saku) – Traditional Japanese Knives

Country of origin: Japan
Number of knives: 2
Types: Deba knife and Yanagiba slicing knife
Blade material: Metal (exact steel composition unverified)
Handle material: Wood
Condition: Vintage, pre-owned, with age-related wear and damage

Product description

Offered for auction is a set of two traditional Japanese kitchen knives, consisting of a Deba knife bearing the inscription "関孫六 銀寿" and a long, slender Yanagiba slicing knife marked "瑞鷹作".

Both knives retain traditional wooden handles and exhibit the distinctive blade profiles associated with Japanese culinary cutlery.

The Deba has a broad, pointed blade traditionally used for preparing fish, while the Yanagiba has a long, narrow blade traditionally associated with slicing fish for sashimi.

The Yanagiba also retains a Japanese label bearing the words "切味保証 優秀" and a burned-in handle marking reading "登録商標瑞鷹".

These surviving markings and labels are interesting features for collectors of traditional Japanese kitchen knives.

Both knives are vintage, previously used items with visible signs of age, wear, and damage. They should be considered maintenance or restoration items rather than fully restored, ready-to-use kitchen knives.

1. Deba knife – "関孫六 銀寿" (Seki Magoroku Ginju)

The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba knife.

Its broad blade and pointed tip are characteristic of the Deba style, traditionally associated with preparing and processing fish.

The blade bears the Japanese inscription:

"関孫六 銀寿"

This may be read as "Seki Magoroku Ginju".

The inscription is reproduced as it appears on the blade. The exact manufacturing date, steel composition, and provenance of this particular knife have not been independently verified.

The knife has a substantial blade profile, with visible signs of previous use and age.

The blade exhibits rust, oxidation, discoloration, dirt, scratches, rubbing marks, and general surface wear.

There are chips and irregularities along the cutting edge, together with wear or damage around the pointed tip.

The knife retains a traditional wooden handle and a dark ferrule.

The ferrule shows dirt, scratches, chips, misalignment, and other age-related imperfections.

The wooden handle shows dirt, scratches, and surface deterioration.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 31 cm
Blade length: 18 cm
Maximum blade width: 4.5 cm

2. Yanagiba knife – "瑞鷹作" (Zuitaka-saku)

The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba slicing knife.

Its long, slender blade and pointed tip are characteristic of the Yanagiba style, traditionally associated with preparing sashimi.

The blade bears the Japanese inscription:

"瑞鷹作"

This may be read as "Zuitaka-saku", meaning "Made by Zuitaka".

The wooden handle retains a Japanese label reading:

"切味保証 優秀"

This may be translated as "Cutting Performance Guaranteed – Excellent".

The handle also bears a burned-in Japanese marking reading:

"登録商標瑞鷹"

This may be translated as "Registered Trademark – Zuitaka".

These inscriptions and labels are presented as surviving markings on the knife. They do not independently establish the exact identity of the maker, the validity of any trademark registration, or a current guarantee of cutting performance.

The label and burned-in marking are interesting details that contribute to the knife's vintage character.

The blade shows rust, oxidation, darkened areas, discoloration, dirt, scratches, rubbing marks, and general age-related wear.

There are chips and irregularities along the cutting edge, as well as wear or damage around the pointed tip.

The knife retains a traditional wooden handle and a dark ferrule.

The ferrule shows dirt, scratches, chips, possible misalignment, and other age-related imperfections.

The wooden handle exhibits dirt, scratches, wear, and deterioration. The surviving label and burned-in marking also show signs of age.

Approximate dimensions:

Overall length: 42 cm
Blade length: 27 cm
Maximum blade width: 3.2 cm

All measurements are approximate estimates based on the photographs and have not been physically verified.

The exact manufacturing dates, steel compositions, and provenance of these knives have not been independently established.

3. Condition and restoration requirements

Both knives are vintage, previously used Japanese kitchen knives and show visible signs of age, use, and storage.

Their condition includes rust, oxidation, dirt, scratches, rubbing marks, discoloration, and general surface wear.

There are chips and irregularities along the cutting edges, together with damage or wear around the blade tips.

The ferrules show dirt, scratches, chips, misalignment, and other imperfections.

The wooden handles show dirt, scratches, wear, and deterioration.

The Yanagiba retains an aged Japanese label and a burned-in handle marking, both of which should be treated carefully.

The blades and handles have not been fully disassembled or internally inspected.

Both knives require sharpening before use. Cleaning, rust removal, repair, restoration, handle adjustment, or replacement of components may also be necessary.

Hidden defects may exist, including corrosion beneath the handles, tang damage, cracks, loose fittings, deterioration inside the wooden handles, or other structural problems not visible in the photographs.

Please carefully examine all photographs, particularly the cutting edges, blade tips, inscriptions, ferrules, wooden handles, and surviving labels.

The photographs form an essential part of the item description.

4. Collector appeal

This set combines two distinctive forms of traditional Japanese kitchen knives.

The Deba bears the well-known "関孫六" name together with the "銀寿" inscription, while the Yanagiba bears the inscription "瑞鷹作".

The Yanagiba also retains a "切味保証 優秀" label and a burned-in marking reading "登録商標瑞鷹".

These surviving Japanese markings provide interesting examples of traditional cutlery branding and product presentation.

The contrasting blade profiles, aged metal surfaces, traditional wooden handles, and surviving inscriptions may appeal to collectors of vintage Japanese kitchenware.

Both knives are particularly suitable for experienced collectors and restoration enthusiasts who understand the maintenance requirements of vintage Japanese blades.

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Important notice – Please read carefully before bidding

No shipping to Denmark, the United Kingdom, or the United States (USA).

Bidding and payment

Please do not place a bid unless you genuinely intend to complete the purchase and payment.

By placing a bid, you confirm your intention to pay for the item if you win the auction.

Failure to complete payment may result in cancellation in accordance with Catawiki's policies.

Condition of vintage items

All knives are vintage, previously used items, sold in their present condition.

They may have rust, corrosion, scratches, chips, worn cutting edges, damaged tips, surface discoloration, deteriorated wooden handles, and damaged, loose, or misaligned ferrules.

Please note that defects which cannot be identified from the photographs may also exist.

These may include hidden corrosion, cracks, looseness, damage to the tangs, deterioration inside the wooden handles, or other structural problems.

The blades and handles have not been fully disassembled or internally inspected.

The knives are not guaranteed to be safe or ready for immediate use.

Cleaning, sharpening, repair, restoration, adjustment, or replacement of components may be required.

Important requirements for bidders

Please bid only if you personally possess the necessary knowledge, experience, practical skills, and ability to carry out cleaning, sharpening, repair, and restoration yourself.

Buyers must be capable of performing these tasks themselves when necessary.

If you do not have the practical ability to repair, restore, sharpen, and maintain vintage Japanese kitchen knives yourself, please refrain from bidding.

These knives are not intended for buyers who expect fully restored, maintenance-free, or immediately ready-to-use kitchen knives.

Please examine every photograph carefully before bidding.

The photographs form an essential part of the item description, and the condition must be evaluated with full consideration of the knives' age and previous use.

Important notice regarding wooden handles

Traditional Japanese kitchen knives commonly feature replaceable wooden handles.

Wooden handles may become dry, loose, cracked, weakened, or damaged through age, storage, previous use, or international transportation.

Ferrules may also become loose, damaged, or misaligned.

Even when a handle appears securely attached before shipment, its condition may change during transportation.

The buyer must understand that handle adjustment, reattachment, repair, or complete replacement may be necessary.

Only buyers with the knowledge and practical ability to carry out such work themselves should bid.

Replacement handles and repair materials are not included unless specifically stated.

Shipping restrictions

All kitchen knives are shipped from Japan via Japan Post or DHL.

We do not ship kitchen knives to Denmark, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

Shipping to other countries may also be restricted depending on local laws, customs regulations, international postal procedures, and the availability of suitable shipping services.

If lawful and compliant shipping cannot be arranged, cancellation may be necessary in accordance with Catawiki's policies.

International shipping and customs

Buyers are responsible for confirming that the importation of kitchen knives is permitted in their destination country before placing a bid.

Customs clearance requirements vary by country.

Buyers must cooperate with customs authorities, postal operators, and delivery companies when additional information, documentation, or payment is required.

Import duties, VAT, and customs clearance fees not already collected at checkout may be payable by the buyer.

The seller cannot directly control customs inspections, import procedures, or delays caused by destination-country authorities.

Shipping availability may change due to international circumstances, changes in import regulations, postal restrictions, or transportation disruptions.

Delivery times

Estimated international delivery time is approximately three to four weeks, depending on the destination and customs procedures.

Delivery times are estimates and cannot be guaranteed.

Please note that delivery to Italy may take one month or longer because of customs processing and postal delays.

Combined shipping

Due to the nature of kitchen knives and the importance of smooth international customs handling, each order is normally shipped separately.

Combined shipping is not offered as a standard service.

Returned parcels and reshipping

If a parcel is returned because the buyer refuses delivery, fails to complete customs clearance, does not provide requested documentation, does not pay applicable import charges, or fails to collect the parcel, reshipping will be considered individually.

Any reshipment must be agreed upon in advance.

Additional reshipping costs are normally the buyer's responsibility, subject to Catawiki's policies and applicable law.

Refunds, cancellations, and other remedies will be handled in accordance with Catawiki's policies and applicable law.

International circumstances and force majeure

International conflicts, sanctions, natural disasters, customs restrictions, postal suspensions, and other circumstances beyond the seller's reasonable control may affect the ability to ship or deliver an item.

If shipping becomes impossible, the situation will be handled in accordance with Catawiki's policies and applicable law.

Final confirmation before bidding

By placing a bid, you acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed and understood the complete product description, all photographs, disclosed defects, shipping restrictions, and important notices.

You understand that these are vintage, previously used knives which may require cleaning, sharpening, repair, restoration, or replacement of components.

You also acknowledge that additional defects not visible in photographs may exist.

Please bid only if you personally have the knowledge, experience, and practical ability to perform the necessary cleaning, sharpening, repairs, and restoration yourself.

If you cannot perform these tasks yourself, please refrain from bidding.

These notices do not exclude or limit any mandatory rights provided under applicable law or Catawiki's policies.

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