Vintage Japanese Daimonya Kagekuni Yanagiba Knife 200mm Carbon Steel 1684

Experience Traditional Sashimi Preparation with a Vintage Daimonya Kagekuni Yanagiba

This pre-owned Daimonya Kagekuni Yanagiba pairs a 200mm carbon steel blade with a wood handle. Its recorded single bevel offers a dedicated Japanese slicing format for controlled sashimi preparation.

The Specs

• Recorded maker / brand: Daimonya Kagekuni
• Recorded inscription: 大門屋景国作 (Daimonya Kagekuni saku)
• Knife type: Yanagiba
• Steel: Carbon steel; exact alloy not recorded
• Recorded hardness: 58 HRC
• Blade length: 200mm
• Overall length: 320mm
• Bevel: Single bevel; handedness not recorded
• Recorded construction: Fully forged, full tang
• Handle: Wood
• Recorded knife weight: Approximately 100g
• Origin: Japan
• Condition: Vintage, pre-owned

The Daimonya Kagekuni Signature

The original engraving notes read 大門屋景国作 as Daimonya Kagekuni saku, translated as made by Daimonya Kagekuni. The suffix 作 means made by or crafted by and is recorded here as part of the signature. The name replaces the conflicting unbranded wording in the earlier narrative, without assigning an unrecorded smith biography, workshop lineage or production date.

Yanagiba means willow blade and describes Japan's dedicated sashimi slicing format. Its long, single-bevel blade is designed for drawing cuts through raw fish, helping create clean slices for texture and presentation. Carbon steel can take a keen edge and rewards careful whetstone maintenance, prompt drying and protective oiling.

Care & Maintenance

• Hand wash only, never in the dishwasher
• Dry immediately after washing to help prevent rust
• Do not soak the wood handle
• Apply a light coat of food-safe camellia oil after drying, particularly before storage
• Preserve the existing single-bevel geometry; do not sharpen both sides as a double-bevel knife
• Professional sharpening by a specialist familiar with single-bevel Japanese knives is recommended
• Store in a suitable saya or on a magnetic rack to protect the edge