Hi George et al.,
Congrats on finishing college. Ready to move on to your master's?
The Yagyu did have their own tsuba. It isn't difficult to find nice examples of antique ones if you are into nihonto collecting (although I wouldn't put one on an iaito as they are far more valuable). Like most tsuba schools there was a pattern book. The Yagyu pattern book started with 36 different tsuba designs and was later expanded to about 120 different designs. The Yagyu school tend to be of coarse sandy and cloudy iron. They tend to be a bit small and have a thick rim. Of course they feature budo related motif such as the triangle and three circles (sangakuen). I'm sure you could find an iaito dealer that has a stock of reproduction Yagyu tsuba. I'm more of a Heianjo shinchu zogan guy myself
Check ot this link for more information:
http://markussesko.wordpress.com/201...1/yagyu-tsuba/
Lance, I think you are right most kenjutsu ryu did not have their own tsuba however most tsuba were from pattern books (except for the really nice custom jobs). Many of the top tsuba making schools had a pattern book and the samurai or towns person looking to buy a tsuba would open the book and pick out what he liked. That is why you find so many tsuba from the Akasaka, Shoami or Ito school etc. with the same repeating design. They would still be hand cut and hand made for the client and I'm sure variations could be requested. I'm also sure the tsuba still had meaning to the owner. Many would represent seasonal themes that could really show the owners good taste and understanding of classical motif. I've always like winter themed koshirae myself (not that i have good taste or any understanding of classicval Japanese motif). See this link for a nice winter themed tsuba:
http://kodogunosekai.com/2011/10/27/...0%8F%E9%8D%94/
Cheers,
Chris