What kind of katana is this? non-typical geometry

[terminus]

I've seen a few katanas with a non-typical geometry like this and was wondering what's their history? are there any benefits or weaknesses to this geometry shape? Is it still even considered a katana? technically it's made in Japan and over 60cm in nagasa, but it's geometry is more akin to a Chinese dao than the typical Japanese katana : 

gendaito recreation:

https://www.tsuruginoya.com/items/a00520.html

[hxv]

May be I am just dense, but is this not a hira zukuri daito? I have seen a few koto gassan in this shape. I do have a gendaito by yoshimune in this shape as well. Rare but not unheard of.

 

Hoanh

[Lee Bray]

Yes, hira-zukuri katana. I owned one once, a rather slim example, and it did not feel very substantial. Rather like it would bend if you swung it too hard.

I understand(I'm not a sword swinger) that they make very good soft target cutters but can very easily take a bend if not handled well. There's a modern made katana in hira-zukuri, I forget the maker, that does very well in tamashigiri competitions. Apparently it's made rather thick and wide to try and prevent bends, but it still does.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Without proper hasuji, you can bend anything in tameshigiri. No need to test that - I've done all of that testing for you!

 

Yes, a hira-zukuri katana, Tony. Nothing unusual.

[Bugyotsuji]

Gassaku, made by two Heisei smiths. According to your link, 相州伝のなかでも古作：彦四郎貞宗をねらったものであろうか

(This blade was) 'probably made emulating old work in the Soshu tradition by  Hikojiro Sadamune'.

[Tom Darling]

Pier,

 

You are 100% I had one that was a copy of the Soshu  school,,mid kamakura period.

 

Tom D

[george trotter]

A friend has a WWII gendai of this type signed TOTO JU USHOSHIN. It is by Yanagawa Ushoshin of Tokyo. I think he worked with his brother in WWII making gendaito.

He is listed as Betseki in the 1943 published gendai swordsmith rankings list on Japanese Sword Index.

Good sword...only one I've had in hand.

Regards,