Looking for Translation help on an interesting Matchlock carbine

[matthewbrice]

I'm looking for help in translating the signature on an interesting matchlock I will have up for sale soon.  

 

The signature is a little hard to make out as you will see, but I did take photos from different angles and with different lighting to try to get a translator enough to see.  

 

 

By the way, this matchlock carbine has a feature I find intriguing.  The barrel features a fluer-de-lis.  The French sent 15 military advisors to Japan to teach the Satsuma samurai Western methods of warfare.  

 

 

Any help in translating the maker's signature would be appreciated.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

--Matthew Brice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Hmmmm....

 

Just to get the ball rolling, are we seeing 上州 at the top and maybe 源 in there? Could that be 作 below?

[Peter Bleed]

Piers is much better at ink blots than I am. I can't read this at all!

Peter

[matthewbrice]

I hear you. Looks like I will have to try harder to get you guys some better photos.

 

 

 

—Matt

[Bugyotsuji]

Matt, we are just the advanced guard. Allow the earth to spin once on its axis.

[uwe]

Hard to read!

First is indeed “上”. But second seemingly don’t correspond with a province. So maybe a another name?

There are also two small kanji down left Piers “冶小”???

[SteveM]

Too faint for me to make a guess. 上 looks right, but everything after has me stumped. 

[Justin Grant]

Matt- rub talc powder on the area and brush off the surface, leaving what fills the troughs and this may help make it readable.