Is it a civil war knife?

[Conte Rosso]

Hi guys, i have found this knife shaped metal object. Allegedly the site was a civil war post. It looks like a heavy machete or sword. My metal detector recognizes the longer part (blade?) as metal. There was a loose piece of what looks like the handle of the knife, I run it through my detector but it is not metal although looks like. It seems to me resembling a large knife. On the handle the corrosion seems to go around the fastening of the handle (circles). It is pretty heavy to be a knife. Any idea anyone?

 

[cactusrat]

I would call it a file. The pointed end would have been where the handle was, but it's broke off.

 

[Conte Rosso]

Cactus thanks for the reply! I keep finding files.. But this it is 17" long and 2" wide. I have never seen a file this big although it could be.

 

[cactusrat]

I had a file (rasp) about 20” long with very big teeth. It was for eating wood, real fast.

The longer the file (depending on the teeth), the faster it will grind. The less sawing back and forth.