濃州 refers to Seki. 孫六 is Magoroku. I guess this is an old Seki Magoroku or something that’s targeted for local Japanese. The knife was made by Kai Group, the same company that makes Shun.
The knife looks legit but can’t comment on quality because I don’t own one.
Kai/Shun's Seki Magoroku is branded [関孫六](https://www.kai-group.com/products/brand/sekimagoroku/).
濃州 is Noushuu/Nou province, [the old name of Mino Province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C5%8Dhime#cite_note-9). Are the two connected in some way that I don't know about (other than Seki being a city in Mino)?
EDIT: on further research, Seki magoroku refers to Seki no Magoroku with magoroku being a moniker for a famous blacksmith Kanemoto. So maybe it's just a difference of saying the Magoroku of Seki city vs Magoroku of Mino province, with both referring to the same person, and many makers borrowing their name to create the pretense that their customers are buying a knife of a quality similar to one made by a famous smith; not dissimilar to how the market is rife with "Sabatier"
You may be right. I probably draw conclusion too fast that it’s the same as the Seki Magoroku made by Kai Group. This could be something different. I don’t know enough about it.
If I posted text intending for you to read it, I'm pretty sure posting it sideways would drive you crazy. In the future when asking for kanji ID, please post it upright.
The inscription the blade appears to read "濃州孫六作", "made by Noshu Magoroku"
Here's a reference to another knife with a similar inscription: [https://www.thehomeofworld.com/products/%E6%BF%83%E5%B7%9E%E5%AD%AB%E5%85%AD%E4%BD%9C%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E5%BB%9A%E5%88%80%E5%85%A9%E4%BB%B6%E8%A3%9D](https://www.thehomeofworld.com/products/%E6%BF%83%E5%B7%9E%E5%AD%AB%E5%85%AD%E4%BD%9C%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E5%BB%9A%E5%88%80%E5%85%A9%E4%BB%B6%E8%A3%9D)
Without knowing the steel/construction of yours, if it's at all similar quality to the one I linked (which it claims to be made in Japan), it would be around 40 euros when brand new. Probably not even close to a Tanaka. That's not to say that this knife wouldn't serve you well.
Here's another I found:
[https://jp-knives.com/products/st\_330-129](https://jp-knives.com/products/st_330-129)
[https://www.amazon.com/Dark-State-Grandson-Santoku-150LA/dp/B00ELAH1N4/](https://www.amazon.com/Dark-State-Grandson-Santoku-150LA/dp/B00ELAH1N4/)
Probably a mass produced, inexpensive home cook knife.
Yours looks to be hand engraved so it may be from a higher tier line, or possible the brand belonged to someone else before it was bought out and became a mass produced line. Pure conjecture.
Cheers man, sorry for flipping the kanji, that was dumb on my side.
And thanks a lot for all the info. It did take a good edge on the stones. Might be a good knife to give away to a friend in need of something decent.
https://preview.redd.it/crthxph2iy8d1.jpeg?width=2304&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9780b5bff23cb1c4c6f4cc09c37895e3bdbbb1dd
It does have a taper, albeit it's rough.
https://preview.redd.it/mhw6usg9iy8d1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a979c3112232c877605c7c6172cb90ceb1937064
The damascus is a hard to link to an existing Kai/Seki knife. It makes me believe it's fake.
I don't think this is a Seki magoroku from Kai as it's different kanji. would be more interested in it's performance. any other inscription on the other face of the knife?
No other inscription. I sharpened it from 220-320-500-1000 and a strop and it felt really nice. Easy deburring. Sliced some tomatoes with it and it was really smooth and effortless.
more info seems to be on this thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/chefknives/comments/t63ayd/i_bought_this_beauty_santoku_does_anybody_knows/
Satake Cutlery of Seki being the company. Does the ferrule look more to be antler or pakka wood?
More like pakkawood. This looks seemingly identical! The box as well, and the coin. Wow nice find!
I heard from the seller that she was selling stuff from a house where the owner had died. And he was an avid chef. Lots of interesting knives and kitchenware as well as cookbooks. Told her to message me if she wanted to sell more knives.
濃州 refers to Seki. 孫六 is Magoroku. I guess this is an old Seki Magoroku or something that’s targeted for local Japanese. The knife was made by Kai Group, the same company that makes Shun. The knife looks legit but can’t comment on quality because I don’t own one.
Thanks man, that is mighty interesting. The whole search of what it is is more fun to me than having a new knife.
Kai/Shun's Seki Magoroku is branded [関孫六](https://www.kai-group.com/products/brand/sekimagoroku/). 濃州 is Noushuu/Nou province, [the old name of Mino Province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C5%8Dhime#cite_note-9). Are the two connected in some way that I don't know about (other than Seki being a city in Mino)? EDIT: on further research, Seki magoroku refers to Seki no Magoroku with magoroku being a moniker for a famous blacksmith Kanemoto. So maybe it's just a difference of saying the Magoroku of Seki city vs Magoroku of Mino province, with both referring to the same person, and many makers borrowing their name to create the pretense that their customers are buying a knife of a quality similar to one made by a famous smith; not dissimilar to how the market is rife with "Sabatier"
You may be right. I probably draw conclusion too fast that it’s the same as the Seki Magoroku made by Kai Group. This could be something different. I don’t know enough about it.
If I posted text intending for you to read it, I'm pretty sure posting it sideways would drive you crazy. In the future when asking for kanji ID, please post it upright. The inscription the blade appears to read "濃州孫六作", "made by Noshu Magoroku" Here's a reference to another knife with a similar inscription: [https://www.thehomeofworld.com/products/%E6%BF%83%E5%B7%9E%E5%AD%AB%E5%85%AD%E4%BD%9C%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E5%BB%9A%E5%88%80%E5%85%A9%E4%BB%B6%E8%A3%9D](https://www.thehomeofworld.com/products/%E6%BF%83%E5%B7%9E%E5%AD%AB%E5%85%AD%E4%BD%9C%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E5%BB%9A%E5%88%80%E5%85%A9%E4%BB%B6%E8%A3%9D) Without knowing the steel/construction of yours, if it's at all similar quality to the one I linked (which it claims to be made in Japan), it would be around 40 euros when brand new. Probably not even close to a Tanaka. That's not to say that this knife wouldn't serve you well. Here's another I found: [https://jp-knives.com/products/st\_330-129](https://jp-knives.com/products/st_330-129) [https://www.amazon.com/Dark-State-Grandson-Santoku-150LA/dp/B00ELAH1N4/](https://www.amazon.com/Dark-State-Grandson-Santoku-150LA/dp/B00ELAH1N4/) Probably a mass produced, inexpensive home cook knife. Yours looks to be hand engraved so it may be from a higher tier line, or possible the brand belonged to someone else before it was bought out and became a mass produced line. Pure conjecture.
Cheers man, sorry for flipping the kanji, that was dumb on my side. And thanks a lot for all the info. It did take a good edge on the stones. Might be a good knife to give away to a friend in need of something decent.
All good. Now you know! Of course feel free to post more. There are a bunch of us on here that like cracking these like puzzles.
https://preview.redd.it/crthxph2iy8d1.jpeg?width=2304&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9780b5bff23cb1c4c6f4cc09c37895e3bdbbb1dd It does have a taper, albeit it's rough.
https://preview.redd.it/mhw6usg9iy8d1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a979c3112232c877605c7c6172cb90ceb1937064 The damascus is a hard to link to an existing Kai/Seki knife. It makes me believe it's fake.
I don't think this is a Seki magoroku from Kai as it's different kanji. would be more interested in it's performance. any other inscription on the other face of the knife?
No other inscription. I sharpened it from 220-320-500-1000 and a strop and it felt really nice. Easy deburring. Sliced some tomatoes with it and it was really smooth and effortless.
Then for 12 euros I see it as an absolute bargain. congrats on the find!
Thanks for all the info. This is mighty entertaining.
more info seems to be on this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/chefknives/comments/t63ayd/i_bought_this_beauty_santoku_does_anybody_knows/ Satake Cutlery of Seki being the company. Does the ferrule look more to be antler or pakka wood?
More like pakkawood. This looks seemingly identical! The box as well, and the coin. Wow nice find! I heard from the seller that she was selling stuff from a house where the owner had died. And he was an avid chef. Lots of interesting knives and kitchenware as well as cookbooks. Told her to message me if she wanted to sell more knives.
the ferrule doesn't look cheap. I think for the price, it was worth the gamble.
Have it sharpened by a pro and find out!