Civil War Fight Knives Photographs

Originally published January-February 2025 · pp. 62–71

Civil War Fight Knives Photographs — lead photograph from the original article

Civil War Fighting Knives—Photographs from the Liljenquiest Family Collection

This half-shaved Confederate looks ready to fight in early war uniform, holding a large Confederate-made knife. The knife is somewhat reminiscent of brass gripped knives thought to be made by Sharp and Hamilton of Nashville, Tenn. This large clip-point Bowie knife appears quite well made with a short choil and beveled top edge.

Library of Congress

This Confederate soldier in a non-regulation uniform holds a small Colt-style pocket revolver but a large antebellum clip-point Bowie knife with a massive blade, in the style of a famous Chevalier, New York, made knife.

Civil War Fighting Knives—Photographs from the Liljenquiest Family Collection

A Confederate soldier in a homespun uniform posed with a large D-guard Bowie knife and U.S. Model 1816 .69 caliber musket with a fixed bayonet.

Library of Congress

Thomas F. Bates, Company D, 6th Texas Infantry, with big Confederate D-guard Bowie knife and rarely seen Walch 10-shot, double hammer revolver that ingeniously used superimposed charges in 5 chambers, note the extra-long cylinder. The 6th Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Camp McCulloch in Victoria, Texas, during the summer of 1861. Its members were raised in Austin, Victoria, McKinney, and Matagorda County. By December 1863, the regiment totaled 642 men and 437 arms. Only a few of its members remained to surrender on April 26, 1865.

Civil War Fighting Knives—Photographs from the Liljenquiest Family Collection

This early war photograph captures a Confederate soldier, armed with a simple but formidable arsenal: a single-shot, bar hammer percussion pistol and a classic D-guard Bowie knife. The massive Bowie was an intimidating weapon. The soldier also wears a homemade scarf, likely a cherished gift from loved ones back home. Its presence is subtle yet poignant—a reminder of the soldier’s connection to his family. His proud display of this scarf adds a human touch to his otherwise imposing image.

Library of Congress

The Confederate enlisted man wearing a double-breasted homespun frock coat with a massive pistol grip D-guard Bowie knife and hand-tooled scabbard posed with a musket. His leather accoutrement belt has a plain sheet brass waist belt plate. Note a carved script inscription on the knife scabbard with a name that appears to be “Philadelphia” after “E. Tennessee.” Philadelphia is southwest of Knoxville, Tenn.

Civil War Fighting Knives—Photographs from the Liljenquiest Family Collection

Private Parris Pace Casey (Nov. 13, 1839–Sept. 29, 1863) of the “Cherokee Rangers,” Company I, 19th Alabama Infantry is wearing an unusual frock coat with tails. He enlisted in Coloma, Alabama, on August 10, 1861. He wears a large Confederate D-guard Bowie knife on his belt. He holds a U.S. Model 1841 “Mississippi” rifle with a scarce and unusual Horstmann & Sons socketed saber bayonet (Reilly B 103). Extant examples of these bayonets are extremely rare and images of soldiers with then are even rarer.

Library of Congress

A Confederate soldier wearing a battle shirt and holding a large spear, double-edged, knife in his strong hands. Photograph thought to be by Charles R. Rees of Richmond, Va.

Civil War Fighting Knives—Photographs from the Liljenquiest Family Collection

Michael Bowman (1842–1892), Company B, 7th Virginia Cavalry, was one of Turner Ashby’s men holding a classic massive D-guard Bowie knife. These unique Confederate weapons were popular early in the war, but soon, soldiers figured out they would rarely be disemboweling any Yankees, and the extra weight led to many being discarded. Michael was 19 years old when he enlisted on April 18, 1861, and listed on his service record that he killed a Union soldier on September 14, 1861. He was later wounded during the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864. Michael had an older brother, David, who was 33 when he entered service in Company H, 12th Virginia Cavalry, and this image had been misidentified previously as him in other texts.

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