Mark with Japanese mark: 薗部芳継 "Sonobe Yoshitsugu" | #433309

薗部芳継 "Sonobe Yoshitsugu". This mark comes from a "tsuba", a sword guard designed to protect the hand from contact with the blade and an opposing sword. It was made by Yoshitsugu, who worked as a "soukenkinkou" in the Nara line of the Sonobe house. Soukenkinkou is the Japanese name for metalworkers who design accessories for bladed weapons.