The tsuba is a copy of a traditional design called a "Take" but I don't know anything about it. Repro jap swords are an awesome deal as they are cheap plentiful and very very good. The real ones called ninhonto are ridiculously overpriced. Te demand is just insane and the japanese government banned taking them out of Japan. If you want a real sword 19th century euro swords are cheap and some are truly incredible. They are also much better weapons than ninhonto.