Mark with Japanese Mark: 慶応丙寅於隅田川　水府小臣　大川貞幹作之 | #458410

慶応丙寅於隅田川　水府小臣　大川貞幹作之 "Keiou hinoetora Sumidagawa ni oite Suifu shoushi Okawa Teikan korewo tsukuru". This mark is from a tsuba and was made by Teikan, 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.