I picked up this knife last year while I was at a local flee market. The man selling the knife obviously did not know the quality of the workmanship and/or history. I am posting this to see if there are any civil war era historians out there who might be able to provide me with more information. The knife has a blade that is 13.5" in length, 2 1/8" in depth and almost 1/4" thick. The right side of the ricoso is stamped (C.S. NEW ORLEANS LA.), the left side of the ricoso is stamped (COOK & BROTHERS 1861). Someone letter stamped in the left side of the guard (B.E. LEONE) and letter stamped the right side of the guard (10th CO.B). The wood in the handle appears to be black walnut and the handle is pinned with three large brass pins and then three small pins around the large pin above the pomel and one small pin just below the guard. The guard is heavy stock brass with an upswept design on both ends and the pomel is a brass birds beak design. Overal the blade is in excellent condition and the handle, guard and pomel have minor nicks and scrapes. I would rate the overal condition of the knife at 90%. Any help would be greatly apppreciated.
