● 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 - Poland 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 Deba & Yanagiba Kitchen Knife Set – “創川会” / Sakai Masahide – Signed & Branded Traditional Knives A highly characterful set of two vintage Japanese traditional kitchen knives, consisting of a substantial Deba and a slender Yanagiba. Both knives retain multiple Japanese identifying marks, not only on the blades but also on their traditional wooden handles. These surviving inscriptions and branded handle marks give the set particular appeal for collectors of older Japanese culinary tools. The Deba is marked “創川会” on the blade and retains an elaborate handle branding reading “堺刃物 知春 優等品 別打.” The Yanagiba is especially interesting, with inscriptions on both sides of the blade as well as a matching “堺正秀別打” branded mark on the handle. These are genuine older working knives and are offered in their present, unrestored vintage condition. 1. Deba Knife – Blade Marked “創川会” The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba, characterized by its broad, deep blade and robust profile. The blade bears the inscription: 創川会 The traditional wooden handle also retains a detailed branded mark reading: 堺刃物　知春　優等品　別打 The wording includes references to Sakai cutlery (堺刃物), superior-grade quality (優等品) and Bessuuchi / special-made production (別打). The combination of blade inscription and surviving handle branding gives this knife considerable vintage character and makes it particularly interesting as an older Japanese working tool. Its broad blade and relatively deep heel create the substantial silhouette associated with traditional Deba knives used in fish preparation. Approximate dimensions: Overall length: 29.5 cm Blade length: 16 cm Handle length: approximately 13.5 cm Maximum blade height: approximately 5.0 cm Fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and dark ferrule. 2. Yanagiba Knife – “Sakai Masahide Special Made” (堺正秀別作) The knife on the right is a traditional Japanese Yanagiba, featuring a narrow, elongated blade and pointed tip. The front of the blade is inscribed: 堺正秀別作 – Sakai Masahide Bessaku / Special Made The reverse side is additionally marked: 堺正秀 別打 – Sakai Masahide Bessuuchi The wooden handle also retains the branded inscription: 堺正秀別打 The presence of related markings on the front, reverse and handle is an attractive surviving detail and gives this vintage knife particularly strong identity. Its slender blade gradually narrows toward the pointed tip, creating the elegant profile traditionally associated with Japanese Yanagiba knives used for slicing fish and sashimi. Approximate dimensions: Overall length: 35 cm Blade length: 21 cm Handle length: approximately 14 cm Maximum blade height: approximately 2.8–3.0 cm Fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and metal ferrule. Multiple Surviving Japanese Markings A particularly appealing aspect of this set is the number of original markings still visible. The Deba combines its “創川会” blade inscription with the branded handle inscription: “堺刃物 知春 優等品 別打” The Yanagiba retains an even more extensive group of markings: “堺正秀別作” on one side of the blade, “堺正秀 別打” on the reverse, and “堺正秀別打” branded into the wooden handle. For collectors of vintage Japanese kitchen knives, such surviving blade and handle markings add considerable historical and visual interest. The two knives also provide an attractive contrast in traditional Japanese blade geometry: the broad, powerful Deba alongside the narrow, elegant Yanagiba. Condition These are genuine vintage, previously used Japanese kitchen knives and are offered in their present, unrestored condition. They show various signs of age, prolonged use, sharpening and storage, including: Dirt and staining Rust and oxidation Patina and discoloration Scratches and rubbing marks Surface and blade wear Evidence of previous sharpening Edge chipping Damage/chipping to the blade tips Dirt and wear around the ferrules Scratches, dents and some misalignment around the ferrules Dirt, staining, scratches and other signs of age and use on the wooden handles Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding. The photographs form an essential part of the condition description. No professional polishing, complete rust removal or restoration has been carried out for this sale. The knives retain their existing patina, scratches, oxidation, wear and other traces of their long working lives. Important Notice for Bidders These knives are not presented as restored or immediately ready-to-use kitchen knives. Due to their age and present condition, they are recommended for collectors, restorers and experienced Japanese knife enthusiasts capable of carrying out their own cleaning, sharpening and maintenance. Depending on the intended use, they may require thorough cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, correction of edge chips and tip damage, and other maintenance or restoration work. Please bid only if you fully understand and accept their present vintage condition and are capable of performing the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself. All dimensions stated above are approximate measurements estimated from the measuring scale visible in the photograph. A distinctive vintage pairing comprising a broad “創川会” Deba with Sakai-related handle branding and a Sakai Masahide Yanagiba retaining inscriptions on both sides of the blade as well as matching handle branding. An appealing set of authentic Japanese working knives with strong visual character, identifiable markings and excellent restoration potential. ■ 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.