The word "Kunitomo" referred to Kunitomo Village in Sakata County, Omi Province (present-day Kunitomo-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture), which was renowned for its production of firearms along with Sakai City during the Warring States period through to the end of the Edo period, and also to gunsmiths who worked in Kunitomo Village (called "Kunitomo Kaji" in Japanese).
国友（くにとも）は、戦国時代(日本)から江戸時代末期まで「堺市」と並び称せられた鉄砲生産地、近江国坂田郡国友村（現、滋賀県長浜市国友町）及び工人の「国友鍛冶」を指す語。