Although it might not be one, it's shape and guard significantly resembles a British-made "Sheffield Fighting Kinfe." Many were imported to America during the civil war. See pages 117 & 118 in the book "The Blockade Runner Modern Greece And Her Cargo." That ship was carrying military weapons and ordnance (among other goods) to the Confederacy when it was sunk by yankee navy warships near Wilmington NC in June 1862. The book shows many items from her cargo, recovered by scuba-divers in the 1960 and 70s.