Not sure where to ask my questions. I picked up 2 knives this weekend. One japanese deba and a large unmarked slicer. Not japanese. Hoping to learn what i can about them.
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New user looking for identifying couple knives
- Thread starter Jason#1
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Thank you.
The Deba is a very old Seki Magoroku 関 孫六。I think the Kakumaki (collar/bolster) is not original, looks like a handmade wrap. I think the original was probably metal, like brass (as opposed to horn/platsic) based on age.
It is a brand name owned by KAI Corp (largest cutlery company in Seki, anmd owner of Kershaw/ZT) and still in existence. It was within in this brand line that the Shun 旬 series was created around 2002, and later separated.
The rest is history.
No idea about the slicer.
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Thank you for your info. When you say very old? The stamping in the blade reminds my of what I see on stuff from ww2 era. Does that sound about the correct time frame?
The slicer will probably always be a Mystery unless someone recognizes it. It has no markings. But it seems a good blade and very unique at least to me pattern on the blade. Its hollow ground very sharp it shows signs of use since its last sharpening and the edge is perfect.
Anyway thank you again.
The slicer will probably always be a Mystery unless someone recognizes it. It has no markings. But it seems a good blade and very unique at least to me pattern on the blade. Its hollow ground very sharp it shows signs of use since its last sharpening and the edge is perfect.
Anyway thank you again.
The slicer reminds me of the stuff put out by Warther knives - https://warthercutlery.com/ . Maybe drop them a note on it, and see if they recognize it. They've been doing knives with the engine turning on the blades for decades.
How old is hard to say. KAI was founded in 1908 and most Japanese knives prior to WWII were carbon and they didn't hold up well. There has also been a practice in some parts to "lay to rest" kitchen knives that have been used a long time and have reached the end of their usefulness. During WWII few knives were made because of a military metal requisition order. Post WWII would be my guess, but
it "could" be from pre-war.
Here is a "old" Sekimagoroku Deba, it has a metal kakumaki. And below, the current model.
Yup, very common in Home Centers like the photo. Reasonably priced and reasonable quality.
The ones carried in Dept stores are often a higher grade, more costly but better quality models.
Strange that KAI doesn't sell them in the US. I guess they figure it would just cut into their Shun sales.
The info you guys are providing is very helpful. It's interesting to learn that it is a custom for Japanese to lay old knives "to rest". I have a habit of the opposite. One of the reasons I picked up this one. It will be used.
Neat to learn that it has a tie to shun knives. I've had shun in the past. Very nice knives. This one is currently my only eastern knife. Been building my kitchen stock with vintage America carbon knives. Most of which just catch my eye on the back of shelves or bottom of box's at garage\estate sales. They aren't bright and shiny so most people think they are useless.
Neat to learn that it has a tie to shun knives. I've had shun in the past. Very nice knives. This one is currently my only eastern knife. Been building my kitchen stock with vintage America carbon knives. Most of which just catch my eye on the back of shelves or bottom of box's at garage\estate sales. They aren't bright and shiny so most people think they are useless.