Ed, it's a valid point, I believe. First, I agree with Bob, that it has been mounted, based on the copper in the nakago ana as well as the presence of a slightly different shade in the seppa dai and the marks from a seppa pointed out by Bob. I have had one person dismiss the tsuba as "Hamamono", which means kodogu for export in the Meiji period, but I think that the above evidence that it has been mounted makes that unlikely. As to your point, it has occurred to me as well, and it does seem like a waste of energy to put design that resides in the seppa dai. It does complete his sword however, and the thought may have been better to finish the art work than leave shorten the sword from the wrong end. I would encourage any opinions about whether the mei is good or not, and whether other members of the NMB would submit it for shinsa or not in Minneapolis. Cheers, Bob