Was it ever a real tsuba?

[Spartancrest]

I came across a 'repurposed' tsuba and at first though it was simply a guard cut down the middle. But further examination made me think was it ever a tsuba to start with?

https://www.jauce.com/auction/w1026374352

 

 

Surely the outline of the nakago-ana should look like the image below? Otherwise the nakago-ana would have been a very odd shape.

    

 

[mas4t0]

Looks like it was cut a little off centre and at a slight angle.

[Geraint]

Tsuba for a ken.

 

All the best.

[Geraint]

Dear Dale.

 

My suggestion was not entirely fanciful, though unlikely.  Have a look here, https://www.aoijapan.com/kenmumei-monju/

 

All the best.

[ROKUJURO]

What about the back of this item? A look at it should reveal the origins.

Now I had a look myself, and my impression is that it was not a TSUBA in the sense of an authentic sword guard.

[Spartancrest]

Geraint, that is certainly very possible the nakago-ana would be the correct shape then - and that makes it a lot easier to cut an even outline, and you get two done at once.

Jean C. , you are also likely correct, perhaps a meiji or later cast copy? The dot pattern is not true nanako is it - looks machine generated.