Impossible 'battle damage' tsuba

[Spartancrest]

Can anyone give an explanation on how this damage could possibly be caused by battle damage?

I can't see it being done by a sword blow coming up through the hand, through  the edge of the tsuka, through the fuchi and through the back edge of the blade. 

Even given the tsuba were placed on upside down it would need to cut through the blade and habaki.

[C0D]

Probably someone tried to test cut his sword against the tsuba

[lonely panet]

a marketing infliction

[GRC]

there's no way that's battle damage...