Who is this smith

[DoTanuki yokai]

https://www.ebay.de/itm/274647699951
It looks good is long and „papered“. But who is the smith I can’t find him anywhere. When I ask the seller he told me I could find him in Japanese books only. After asking in wich book he told me he don’t have it and don’t know wich one. 

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Azuma Tamonbei Masatsugu - 東多門兵衛正次, mid 1600's smith from Bizen. Chū-saku in Fujishiro, just checked the entry on him and very tiny bit of info on him there.

 

Here is a reference item: (edited second one out as it was same school but different smith by my mistake)

https://yuuki-hamasaki.jp/katana/a094/a094.html

[DoTanuki yokai]

Thank you very much Jussi.

He also signed masanari i think. Because in the eBay description was written he also signed Masamori .

 

Edit: masanari was his father 🤦‍♂️  

[Jussi Ekholm]

Unfortunately I own pretty much zero books on Shintō swords as they fall outside my personal focus, so I cannot help much. Fujishiro lists him being the son of Masanari (正成), seems like Masamori (正盛) [whose work was on my second link] is supposedly son of Masatsugu.

[DoTanuki yokai]

Ok now I got it. Thank you. 

[Karusk]

I actually bought this and joined up to see if i could source any info on him. I.e his life and extended lineage. 
 

Also i was wondering if anyone could tell me what the legal sword length was at the time it was made. I believe its jidai is around 1630. Pre 1650 as the file i found on him says he was active up to 1644. Am I mistaken in thinking that he had made an illegal sword? Its 32 3/8 in nagasa. 
 

 

 

https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/MAS859

 

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

nice @Karusk!! Welcome!

[Karusk]

Thank you! I intend to show off my collection soon.