Mark with Japanese mark: 畑直鏡 "Hata Naoki" | #433565

畑直鏡 "Hata Naoki". 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 Naoki, who worked as a "soukenkinkou" in the Nara line of the Hata house. Soukenkinkou is the Japanese name for metalworkers who design accessories for bladed weapons.