Japanese Project Knife Set 2-Piece Carbon Steel Made in Japan 1621

Experience a Japanese carbon steel handle-fitting project

This vintage two-piece project set offers a recorded 180mm deba and a 170mm blade listed as Namiri, both supplied without handles. It is a starting point for assessment and restoration, not a pair of ready-to-use kitchen knives. Secure handles and a completed condition assessment are required before use.

The Specs

• Set: two handleless project knives
• Steel recorded: carbon steel; exact grades not specified
• Knife 1: deba, recorded 180mm blade and single bevel; handedness not recorded
• Knife 2: recorded as Namiri, 170mm blade and double bevel; knife-type identification requires confirmation
• Handles: none; appropriate handle fitting required
• Construction previously described: forged; manufacturing method not independently verified
• Hardness: earlier 58 HRC figure requires verification
• Overall lengths, weights and edge angles: not recorded
• Makers and production dates: not recorded
• Origin recorded: Japan
• Condition: vintage, unfinished project set

Heritage & Use

The deba provides a recorded specialist fish-preparation format. The second blade's Namiri designation is retained without assuming it means nakiri or another knife type, and its working role should be determined after identification and assessment. Earlier notes state that the blades have never had handles fitted, but that history is not independently verified. Inspect the blades, tangs, corrosion and edges before deciding on restoration; missing handles do not establish that handle fitting is the only finishing work needed.

Care & Maintenance

• Fit secure, appropriate handles and assess the completed knives before kitchen use
• Handle exposed edges and tangs carefully; never use bare tangs as handles
• Hand wash only and dry immediately; avoid soaking fitted handles
• Remove active rust and apply a light coat of food-safe blade oil before extended storage
• Sharpen on suitable stones once handles are secure, preserving each blade's existing geometry
• Use single-bevel technique for the recorded deba and double-bevel technique for the second blade after confirming its geometry
• Avoid honing rods on the single-bevel deba; consult a specialist if identification or sharpening is uncertain
• Store securely with exposed tangs and edges protected