Bilbo (sword)

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.

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

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
  1. The encyclopedia of the sword, Nick Evangelista. page 55
  2. Online Etymology Dictionary. "Bilbo". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  3. Kemp Kemp, Peter (1976). The Oxford companion to ships & the sea. Oxford University Press. pp. 82. ISBN 0-19-211553-7. bilbo .

 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
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