MASAMOTO Tsukiji Takohiki 330mm blade W/ Japanese Yew Handle and Saya
***I am not an original owner, so I am not 100% sure, but it should be the handle and Saya are made out of Japanese Yew.
I buy Japanese Yew handles as wholesale prices from Sakai Handle maker directly, and I pay the same amount as Ebony handle, so Japanese Yew products are regards of the similar grade as Ebony products. There are also bamboo engraving on the handle and Saya.
I have seen the same bamboo mark saya many times on the old Genkai Masakuni knives, so the craftsman must be a famous skillful person in the industry at the time. ***
This knife looks it has never been used with Saya.
I can see several tiny chips on the edge, otherwise it is in mint condition to me.
I think it was finished natural finest grit sharpening stone to me.
I will leave the sharpening to the next owner, unless the next owner wants me to sharpen it.
I am not sure what kind of the steel with the blade.
I guess it might be white 1 or white 2 or blue 1 or blue 2 steel kasumi blade.
Blade Length from the tip to the heel; 13 inches (330mm)
Handle Length; 6 inches (153mm)
Total Length; 19 3/8 inch (492mm)
Knife weight is 178g(6.1oz.)
The heel part of the spine width is 4mm (3/16 inch) wide.
HANDLE; Japanese Yew with Water Buffalo horn bolster.
BLADE; Kasumi style blade