The "white brass" suggestions makes alot of sense, the guard is a bit loose, and moving it the weight feels less than what I would expect nickel to feel like. And Robert, I wouldn't want to send this on to you, in my collection it is a big fish in a little pond, I wouldn't want to have its ego damaged joining yours.
Is the spiral design and inset chain on the hilt indicative of a particular period of bolo construction?