Help with Gunto Translation

[Conway S]

This one really has me stumped. I think it’s “Minamoto ju X kitae kore.” 源住X鍛之。

 

I thought maybe the missing character is 助 or 功, but cannot find any Showa smiths by that name.  Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Con 

 

[rebcannonshooter]

Hi Con,

The third kanji appears to be "koto". I agree with you that the first kanji is "Minamoto" and, if so, the second kanji cannot be "Ju". There is a possibly that the second kanji is "Tomo".  But...the name "Tomo Koto" seems very weird???? So I'm stumped too! Hopefully one of the better translators will weigh in on it. 

Tom

[Shugyosha]

Those are the kanji but I think you need another reading for them “Banjuu” is one possibility but there may be others. 

[Nobody]

源任功鍛之 – Minamoto Yoshikatsu forged this.

 

I do not know the correct reading for 任功. There are other readings, and Yoshikatsu is one possibility.

[Conway S]

Thank you for the assistance Moriyama san。