厨刀 - 钢, 木 - 日本 - 传统的和式柳刃包丁 大文字作/大文字正秀作

Vintage Japanese Yanagiba Knife Set – Signed “Daimonji” & “Daimonji Masahide” – Traditional Sashimi Knives
ヴィンテージ和柳刃包丁2本セット ― 「大文字作」「大文字正秀作」銘 ― 伝統的な刺身包丁
Offered here is a pair of vintage Japanese Yanagiba knives, both signed and representing the traditional form of Japanese sashimi and fish-slicing knives.
This lot combines practical appeal with collector interest, featuring two long, elegant single-bevel blades with clear maker’s inscriptions and period details.

The set consists of:

Left knife: signed “Daimonji” (大文字作)
Right knife: signed “Daimonji Masahide” (大文字正秀作)

The knife on the right still retains a “Buffalo Horn Handle” (水牛柄) label at the ferrule and a “Registered Trademark – Harasaburo Quality Guarantee” (登録商標 原三郎 品質保証) label on the handle, adding a further layer of historical and commercial interest to the piece.

Both knives have the refined long, narrow Yanagiba profile developed for clean slicing of sashimi and fish. Their proportions, forged appearance, and visible age make them attractive not only as practical Japanese kitchen knives, but also as a vintage pair with strong character and authenticity.

Approximate dimensions
Left knife – “Daimonji”
Overall length: approx. 42 cm
Blade length: approx. 27 cm
Right knife – “Daimonji Masahide”
Overall length: approx. 39 cm
Blade length: approx. 24 cm

Measurements are approximate and taken from the photograph.

Features and appeal

This pair is appealing for several reasons:

Both knives are signed, giving the lot a stronger identity than anonymous vintage kitchen knives.
The two blades form a visually coherent traditional Yanagiba set, suitable for collectors of Japanese cutlery as well as users familiar with single-bevel knives.
The surviving “Buffalo Horn Handle” label and “Harasaburo Quality Guarantee” label on the right-hand knife provide additional period charm and document-like value, preserving traces of how the knife was originally marketed and sold.
The lot has the atmosphere of genuine working Japanese kitchen tools rather than decorative reproductions, with honest age and use visible throughout.

Rather than overly restored pieces, these knives retain the natural appearance of vintage Japanese cutlery that has been used and stored over time. For many collectors and enthusiasts, that untouched character is part of the attraction.

Condition

These are vintage used knives and show age-related wear and condition issues consistent with long-term use and storage.

Visible condition points include:

dirt and staining from age
rust / oxidation
scratches and general wear
small tip damage
minor edge chips
remaining traces of old label material around the ferrule area

The knives are sold as found / as is. They have not been restored to a cosmetic “like new” state.

Please bid only if you understand and accept the condition of old Japanese knives. These knives are recommended for buyers who are capable of carrying out their own cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, and maintenance, or for collectors who appreciate vintage Japanese kitchen blades in honest used condition.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an essential part of the description and condition report.

A characterful and authentic pair of signed vintage Japanese Yanagiba knives, suitable for collectors, chefs, and enthusiasts of traditional Japanese cutlery.
■ IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING

● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK

● 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. 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.