What is the purpose of the "tsuba"?

[Mark]

Please see the pictures.  I am not sure the purpose of this item.  My guess maybe a pole arm?  I am hoping someone has seen one before. The center opening is flat on one side and beveled on the other. and not sure why there is a small opening on one side, doesn't seem you would need a kozuka or similar

 

any thoughts appreciated

 

mark

[eternal_newbie]

Could the piece of metal separating the two openings have simply broken/rusted away?

[Jussi Ekholm]

I am not a fittings guy but my guess would be it had been fitted for wooden sword, bokutō/bokken.

[ROKUJURO]

Of course as Jussi says. A cheap iron TSUBA in not so good condition was repurposed as BOKUTO TSUBA. Not common, but not very rare either.

[Mark]

makes sense, thanks for the comments i guess i just have not seen something like that before

[Kantaro]

Indeed for a wooden sword.

[Spartancrest]

 

 

   An example from the Ashmolean museum EA1978.250   The size of the hole may have been altered even more, to be used as a maedate "crest" but I think it was first used for a practice sword.

 

Another opinion of the useage here:  http://www.nihonto.us/ONIN NAGAMAKI TSUBA.htm    But I think it more likely these were used on wooden practice swords as others have stated

 

 This one - is anyones guess - not suitable for a practice sword  - maybe a maedate.  [or a bottle opener !  ]

 

   one in this group of twenty https://www.jauce.com/auction/x1224304881  [probably the only one of any interest!]

 

Edited March 27 by Spartancrest
More images

[Spartancrest]

This one is also odd - found in the Ashmolean museum - 75 mm x 72 mm  Notice the "niku" [raised trimmings] around the whole of the opening - the hole was made that way