This sword features a blade signed Kanenori (兼則), a name carried by several generations of swordsmiths working in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture). The Kanenori lineage is most closely associated with the Mino-den Sue-Seki tradition, which flourished from the late Muromachi into the early Edo period. Smiths of this school were known for producing robust, sharp-cutting weapons that were highly valued during Japan’s turbulent 15th–17th centuries. Their workmanship typically displays a practical martial character, combining reliable cutting ability with efficient forging methods.