Mon (?) on kyu-gunto--What does it represent?

[Nacogdochian]

Friends, yesterday II was shown a nice kyu-gunto that walked into local antique store. Sword is in great shape, cursory exam makes me believe it is a family blade but we were unable to remove the handle to check the tang. The pictured "mon" is integral to the hilt and not applied like all others that I have seen.

Any help in identifying the symbol would be most appreciated.

[Nick Komiya]

That is a family crest depicting Japanese Bracken Fern Sprouts. The Mon is called 石持ち地抜き三本蕨紋 Gokumochi-Jinuki-Sanbon-Warabi. However, as I always say, it is not possible to name the family just with that.

[Nacogdochian]

Thank you very much!