Here is another e-mail from Hamada following some more specific questions:
Dear Mr. Feieira
Sorry for delay response,
Yes sorry Matui, Matsui Mitsui are all same shotguns and were I think mostly really made by skband sent to US I said ending in late 80s. Perhaps this shotgun is much older may not be so, sorry I cannot identify for certain if markings are the japanse, it just seems like some shotguns ssen here in Japan long ago with wood really very much good for sure nice gun enjoy.
Shugo Hamada
Hamada & Son Ltd.
Well....based on this - I guess we are back to square one?
In retrospect I thing I remember seeing some Mitsui / SKB side by side shotguns in this forum...but I simply don't see the connection to this shotgun, or any of the Japanese guns posted on this forum thusfar - on my end skepticism remains that it is Japanese.
Any actual photos of any side by side Mitsui shotguns for comparison would be appreciated.
