Shoshin or gimei? Naotane expertise/opinions needed

[Kiril]

Hi all,

 

I need your expertise/opinions on the following nakago, whether real or fake. The blades have a certificate but as you know papers can be forged.

 

Katana (.heic files): 

Katana - Google Drive

 

Wakizashi (.heic):

Wakizashi - Google Drive

 

Certificate (.heic):

Chiba 10078-10079 - Google Drive

 

What worries me is Naotane's monogram on the katana, the way mekugi ana takes a portion of it. What do you think?

I've found some examples on genuine meis but it look Naotance modified his signature over the years.

 

I am attaching the jpg version of the pictures.

[Bruce Pennington]

Enhanced the photos a bit:

Here's one from Sesko:

 

I checked my other files on him, and I agree, his mei changed a bit over time.  Not as much variation in his kakaihan, but I did find one that dipped below the line, not quite as dramatic as this, but below all the same.  Hard to say, but I don't see a definitive reason to suspect this as gimei.  However I'm no expert in mei.

[Alex A]

Think we saw these a few weeks back.

 

This cant be answered here, unless you want to base your purchase on what someone said on a forum 

 

You need to talk with NBTHK, wouldn't spend that kind of money unless it came from them.

 

Though that's me,

[Jacques]

I don't see anything wrong for the period under review.

[Peter Bleed]

Hey, the dude was 76 years old. Maybe his penmanship was slipping. Or do I mean his chiselmanship?

P