Yoshi hide Tsuba Showa era?

[kotachi]

Hi Everyone, 

I have been trying to research an iron tsuba I got a while ago. I think the translation would be Yoshihide 吉英 but I am unsure on the hide character. There is a swordsmith that uses these characters listed in Sesko, Horeki eria (1751-1764) that changed his name to Yoshiteru (still using same characters) but this tsuba doesn't seem to have that age in the patina. I believe when I got it the seller claimed it was a showa era piece, which seems inline with the patina and sakura blossom theme, but it seems to be a bit nicer that what I have seen from war era fittings. I also saw a mention of a Shitahara Yoshihide, who taught Suishinshi Masahide, that may have used the same yoshi and hide character as my tsuba but I cannot find any more reference on him. Any ideas as to the school/time period this tsuba could be from?  I don't plan to sell it, even if it is a modern piece I think it would look good mounted on a gendaito someday. Thanks for any options you are willing to share. 

-Jay G.

[SteveM]

To me it looks more like Yoshihiro (吉廣) of which there are seven metalsmiths using that name. 

There is a late Edo metalsmith with the name Yoshihide (吉英), but the second kanji on this mei doesn't look like 英 to me. And in late Edo, I don't think you'll find too many swordsmiths forging tsuba. It was mostly the domain of metalworkers, by this time, with maybe a few notable exceptions. 

[kotachi]

Thank you for your reply Steven. That punch mark is certainly not doing anybody any favors as it is covering up a crucial part of the kanji. I would have not guessed hiro on my own.