What kind of knife is this?

I have what appears to be an old, heavy knife. It is 19 inches long including the handle and the blade is 2.75" wide. It's .375" thick at the spine which is unusually thick. It weighs 43 ounces.

I've heard this type of knife referred to as a corn knife, but I'm not sure if that's right. It seems too heavy and not quite long enough to be a machete.

Does anyone know what this is?

 

Its really hard to say...though thats not the blade or handle shape I would expect from what I know of corn knives....which ain't much...lol. It's almost got a semi-bolo type blade. And it sorta resembles some of the Civil war era blades...except it has no guard.

I'd almost suspect its homemade for a specific purpose..any stampings or markings at all?
Even cheap mass produced blades normally have some sort of stamp down near the ricasso area....

Where did you find/buy it?

 

Thanks, Vic.

There are no visible markings. I don't know where it came from. It's been around my house for years and I suspect my father picked it up at a garage sale or junk shop.

Maybe it is homemade.

Do you think it has any value for anyone?

 

Doubtful without some sort of provenance. Without markings or a complete history...anything would pretty much be a guess. Judging by the painted handle (though that could be more recent) its not really that old. It may have been painted red because it was to be used in emergencies or just to locate it if dropped in a field.

The thickness of the blade (3/8") would be pretty common for something like a spring out of an old truck or wagon. Is it flat ground down to the edge or hollow ground?

Now..would it have value to someone...sure...collectors of big old rusty odd knives....lol.

 

It could have been home made from a saw blade. - A lot of work, especially the grinding and sharpening, but they were common in some rural areas. My mother got a couple from her father (born 1887) and grandfather (born 1847).

Dick

 

It is not hollow ground. If it's homemade, it was well-done as the thickness tapers to about .170" just before the bevel and it is very uniform in its taper and the faces are very flat.

Thanks to both of you for the info.