SAND CAST GUARD: CONFEDERATE (FILE) FIGHTING KNIFE CIVIL WAR 15" LONG: RETURNS

Description

I sent photo's of this knife to the best knife people and the response was that it is a Civil War era knife but the guard really throws'em.  They said it may have been put on after the war.  I don't think so and for anyone to know for sure YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT IN YOUR HAND.  So I am allowing for a RETURN POLICY on THIS ITEM ONLY.  It's just one of those things you have to hold in your hand to see if it's real.  Once you hold it in your hand you'll know.  Very crude but easy to make and effective.  I'm surprised this wasn't done more often in the South, but then it requires more brass  PICTURES:  Shown is a hand crafted knife from a file typical of a Confederate Civil War fighting knife.  What is unusual besides being a little shorter (overall 15" length), which was likely dictated by the length of the file it was fashioned from, but that the guard is round and sand cast. Totally unique.  In it's current condition, one side of the blade is cleaner than the other side.  I believe the knife may have been more on the ground and was bent by a wagon wheel or something rolled over it as you can see in the slight bend at the last 1 1/2 of the tip.  On the better side you can see how the steel was really hand worked to give it the uniform and symetrical pitch/crown to the blade, though it is evident on both sides.   The guard, very unusual in it being round, is clearly a crude sand cast typical of the era, or earlier, as is the soldering of the guard to the knife.  The grip handle which is no longer around was likely walnut with a flat washer/pommel cap at the end of the pinged down tang, which is still hammered down, having held the grip intact.  The white splotches is oil based paint with a little red.  I would expect more corrosion if it were left outside but it seems more compatible to being left inside of a barn or a wood shed that was painted white.  Bad on the underside of the blade but not too bad to good on the top,... no sun no rain.  It has that look.  Conjecture? Sure, but that is the joy in owning a piece like this knife and how it can speak to you.    On the tang you can clearly see the serrated markings of a file as shown in the photo.  Another unusual feature of the knife is not only the round sand cast guard, but that it is set at a slight angle that fits the hand better. Additionally is the double edged symmetrical nature of the blade, which ironically "cuts both ways", something not uncommon in a Confederate fighting knife.  The other curiosity is 2), the abbreviated length of the blade which is only 10". Not unusual and certainly sufficient length to fight with, but a little short by the norm one finds with some of these knives.   It is clearly made from what materials they had at hand.  Absolutely a one off and hand crafted by a rather talented backyard blacksmith.  The blade is certainly well fashioned by hand and an absolutely superb job, then to come up with the round sand cast bronze guard absolutely unique.  I could have removed the paint but I think it tells part of the history of this knife and leave it to the buyer to decide.
Super rare and unique example of a Confederate fighting knife.  Like I mentioned earlier, I am letting any buyer hold this in his hand before they consulate any sale because I'd want the same thing despite the treatment this site gives its sellers.  I don't have it marked as such because they only give 14 or 30 day return and that's stupid.  But I'll give anyone 5 business days to see if you believe it's real.  IF NOT just let me know within 5 business days of receiving the knife and you can return for a full refund ONLY YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY SHIPPING BOTH WAYS...  The knife is a good one.