Mark with Japanese Mark: 以精鐵百錬鍛之　文化三寅年春吉日 | #458377

以精鐵百錬鍛之　文化三寅年春吉日 "seitetsu hyakuren motte korewo kitaeru Bunka san toradoshi haru kitsujitsu". This mark is from a tsuba and was made by Tomochika, who worked as a sword engraver (soukenkinkou) in Hitachi Province (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture). Soukenkinkou is the Japanese name for metalworkers who design accessories for bladed weapons. A tsuba is a sword guard designed to protect the hand from contact with the blade. It also balances the weight of the sword.