RARE MID-19TH CENTURY AMERICAN ANTIQUE 
U. S. CIVIL WAR, ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC FIELD AMPUTATION, COMBINATION BONE SAW & TISSUE CUTTING KNIFE, featuring CARVED HARDWOOD WOODEN HANDLE & SLOT BRASS FASTENERS, STAMPED 'C.W. ...AD' on BLADE FACE for use in the MILITARY FIELD of OPERATIONS to EXECUTE EMERGENCY, LIFE-SAVING LIMB AMPUTATIONS as a RESULT of BATTLEFIELD WOUNDS during FIGHTING 
[Found in a southern New Hampshire antique estate with many other US Civil War artifacts & period items of interest]
(Circa 1861-1865)
Mid 19th century, American antique U.S. Civil War original, authentic field amputation bone saws & tissue cutting knives with wooden handles & two-sided blades  
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DIMENSIONS:
17 ¼" Length x 11 ¼" Blade length x 1 ½" blade Width
 x 1" handle Depth
Weight: 6 oz.

 DESCRIPTION:
 Truly outstanding! Untouched and as it was found in the southern New Hampshire antique estate it was discovered in along with several other period items of interest as well as accompanying U.S. Civil War artifacts. A truly wonderful and unadulterated, unbastardized, U. S. Civil War military, field surgeon medical artifact. Aside from the expected pitting and episodes of oxidation on the metal cutting blade, the hardwood handle is intact, with no cracks or loss and all slot brass handle fasteners present and intact. The blade is signed with an unfortunately illegibly stamped impression 'C. W. ...AD' on its facia. The blade is a two-sided one, with the serrated, toothed edge used for sawing through bone, while the upper edge when the knife was turned around, used for slicing through the victim's flesh before the saw was flipped. The surgeon would then subsequently laboriously saw through bone to remove the affected and compromised limb. Of course, as primitive, macabre and horrific as this may all sound today, field surgeons knew that when a soldier was injured and had a flesh wound caused by a ball, bayonet or cannon shrapnel, they had little time before infection and subsequently gangrene would set in and then not only threaten the entire limb of the wounded soldier but his life as well. An incredible find and now very, very scarce. A simply extraordinary mid-19th century American antique, period surgical item and original, authentic U. S. Civil War military artifact that is a part of our collective, shared historical record. Amazing.
 
CONDITION: 
Very Good to Excellent overall antique condition.