Latin letters, writing. Translation?

[BjornLundin]

Found this om toukenhataya.

 

First, I thought it said RIP om the tsuba. Think it is PIP? 

 

Kashira: AFRSIRIS...

 

Almost looked like a @ but it is a circle in a circle

 

anyone? What does it tell? Im curious.

 

https://www.toukenhataya.jp/goods/sword/sword_s1879.html

[Spartancrest]

Not Latin, I think it is Greek or Coptic. Both languages are related. The script could be from an early Christian text which was often written in Greek.

There are a few letters that could be Russian as well. Many tsuba were decorated with random European letters as a form of decoration and had no real meaning.

[Geraint]

Dear Bjorn.

 

The tsuba is signed Hirado Kunishige and it's a nice example.  His work is heavily influenced by Namban style, a topic of much discussion in recent years.  The Roman lettering is applied to indicate this influence but they are a random  decorative device, don't stress over any meaning.  Tsuba are more often seen than fuchi kashira and I have to say I really like that mount.

 

All the best.

[Curran]

I second Geraint's opinion.

Nice example of typical Hirado Kunishige work.