Continuing on the subject of US bowie knives, I like the large knives (some like short swords really), used by the Southern Confederate forces during the Civil War, as they often have that "blacksmith-made" look and a lot of character. Some images of examples from the internet shown below.
The 1963 book by Francis A. Lord "Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia" says the Northern soldiers generally carried English made knives, whereas the Confederates normally made the knives locally, also Confederate soldiers were less well armed in general and hence the bowie knife was more popular with them. Over thirty Southern knife suppliers are listed. Seemingly Confederate knives were seldom marked with their maker's name.
If anyone can expand further on these interesting topics, please do so. Does anyone have some examples they can share ?
One wonders of course what practical use such knives would be in a conflict that employed repeating firearms etc., even early submarines
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