Help with tsuba

[Apercus]

I don’t know if there is enough left of this signature to get anywhere. I don’t know a lot about tsuba but I have a number of reference books that I can go to. Can anyone point me in the right direction for schools or era? It’s 5.8 cm by 6.2 cm and .9cm at the outside edges.

[Apercus]

The focus is perhaps a little better on this photo.

[Stephen]

Looks like it was defaced.

[Apercus]

It’s been treated poorly. There are traces of lacquer remaining and deep pitting on the outside edges. There was active rust on it when it arrived. I bought it because I was curious of the style and forge techniques. I thought it would be interesting to study. 

[Peter Bleed]

I'll bet it said KUNIHIRO. They made raw plates and this piece looks like it was seriously reworked.

Peter

[Nobody]

If that is Kunihiro, this might be the same Kunihiro.  

 

Ref. 古玄社 時代武具 國廣銘 鉄製／鍔 刀鍔 NR1039(鍔、刀装具)｜売買されたオークション情報、yahooの商品情報をアーカイブ公開 - オークファン（aucfan.com）

 

[Apercus]

Looks like that is a strong possibility from what I can see when comparing the photo you posted with what is left on the tsuba. The edges were hammered to create the flared out edges and roll over effect. If this was done after the mei was added it could account for the beat up appearance. Thanks for the response. I was just curious. The iron does not look too particularly old to me.

[ROKUJURO]

To me, the traces of the tools on the TSUBA look very recent, so I would not exclude the possibility that this is just an attempt to make a TSUBA. The signature looks as if it was deliberately made illegible.