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smith signature

Submitted by desmond westlake on Tue, 2011-12-06 16:54

Hi, can anyone read this signature, I believe its a Showa blade in WW2 fittings, thanks.

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#1Submitted by kazarena on Sun, 2011-12-11 22:30.

Dear Desmond, I can't read

Dear Desmond,

I can't read the first character. The rest looks like:

?光作
? mitsu saku

(Made by ?mitsu)

Regards,
Stan
#2Submitted by desmond westlake on Sun, 2012-01-15 11:09.

Kanji reading

Hi Stan

Thanks for your effort to read the signature, unfortunatly the first character is hard to read, I agree with you that the last two characters read Mitsu Saku, after exhustive reseach trying to read the first one, I think it reads Tomo (friend).
The only Tomomitsu that I can find are a Father and Son who were Smiths during the 14 Century and it maybe the Father as His Kanji is the closest.
If that is the case then great! But I need to get it varified, so I am going to the Victoria and Albert Museum to get the sword checked. I have got a Wakizashi which I need checked out, so I might as well do both, If anyone else can help on this subject it will be greatly appreciated.