Can horimono be a 'signature' for a specific swordsmith?

[Lewis B]

I am curious to know if horimono are a useful way to identify a maker or if they are just design elements that are representative of a particular den or era? Something like this? Are these chisel marks stylised kanji?

[John C]

HB:

I think bonji are fairly common, so maybe not much of an identifier, though I suppose some artists favored certain ones over others.

 

John C.

*chart curtesy of Ray Singer

[mywei]

Bonji horimono are a common motif used through multiple eras, even currently

 

There are a few individuals that are renowned for high quality horimono - such as Ikkanshi Tadatsuna or Munenaga among others

[PNSSHOGUN]

If memory serves me right, the Kaifu school occasionally had the Mei on the blade.