This is a Confederate side knife that looks to have been turned into a tobacco or corn knife after the war. The overall length of this southern side knife is 16 1/4" with a blade length of 8 3/4". This one does not come with a scabbard, not sure it even had one. The oak handle is 6 3/4"" and is round. There is an age crack on the top of the handle that runs from the ferrule back 3 3/4". There is no cross guard. An iron ferrule is used to strengthen the handle, it is loose on the handle. The blade has taken on a dark patina. The spine is 3/16", and could possibly be made from a cut down sword. There are no visible pins attaching the tang to the handle. It appears to be an interference fit. Whoever crafted this knife knew what he was doing. The blade is as tight to the handle as the day it was made. There is no wobble or deflection anywhere in the knife. While it's isn't a monster 24" bowie, this is a piece of southern craftsmanship made during the American Civil War that continued to be used after the war as a farming implement!

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