Mark with Japanese Mark: 斎藤芳比子 "Saito Yoshihiko" | #459130

斎藤芳比子 "Saito Yoshihiko". This mark is from a tsuba and was made by Yoshihiko, who worked as a sword engraver (soukenkinkou) in Echigo Province (present-day Niigata Prefecture) for the Saito house. 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.