Bilbo (sword)

A 1600-1650 bilbo with a Solingen blade and a Spanish hilt.

The bilbo is a type of 16th century, cut-and-thrust sword or small rapier formerly popular in America.^[1] They have well-tempered and flexible blades and were very popular aboard ships,^[2] where they were used similarly to a cutlass. The term probably comes from the Basque city of Bilbao,^[3] Bilbo in Basque, where a significant number of them were made and exported to the New World. These swords were also sold to merchants of every European nation, including England.

Etymology

Bilbo (Basque: Labana Bizkaitarra, Spanish: daga vizcaína (Biscayne dagger)) is an English catch-all word used to very generally refer to the "utilitarian" cup-hilt swords, found all over America. They usually had a wide, relatively short sturdy and well-tempered blade, were comparatively unadorned, and were considered practical and utilitarian. The grip was often covered with wire, rather than plain nut.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bilbo". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

See also

• Dirk
• Falchion
• Cutlass