American Bowie knife?

[not2sharp]

I have gone through my extensive reference library on Bowie’s and other period knives and the closest match thus far is this early confederate civil war knife (from pg. 201 of R L Wilson’s Steel Canvas).

It still lacks the spiral brass handle treatment and the pictured knife is about 3” longer. I am leaning towards the OP knife being a high quality field knife for wealthy but experienced outdoorsman. It’s a comfortable and solid using knife where the investment has been made in a fine grip rather than other decorative embellishments.



N2s

[not2sharp]

Also, the knife probably had a makers mark once. But, it has been lost to surface corrosion. The panel below, which is a closeup of possible mark extending only 1/2” was perhaps part of a larger more elaborate stamping.

N2s

This is a closeup of the blade show at the bottom of post 1. The mark can be seen about 2-1/2” in front of guard, near the center and parallel with the blade.