From a long term collection comes this identified Confederate States Navy knife. This artifact was owned by Ordinary Seaman Robert Cruse who served aboard the CSS Morgan a Gunboat of the CSN. See Below.
Confederate Memorial Park was the site of Alabama's only Confederate veterans home. The facility was in operation from 1902 to 1939 for the care of elderly veterans and their wives and widows. Of the many hundreds who resided at the facility, 313 were buried in one of the two cemeteries located at this site. Cemetery #1 is the original cemetery, and was used from 1902 to 1911, when Cemetery #2 was opened.
From their records:
Cruse, Robert
He was born Mar 7, 1833 Ireland, he died Apr 13, 1910.
He enlisted Apr 1861 Mobile AL as an Ordinary Seaman. He is buried in the Confederate Memorial Park Cemetery Chilton County.
See photo of grave.
The knife itself appears to be of General Purpose, and or Rigging. On the blade in block letters is stamped "CSN". There is considerable wear around this stamping. There are no other markings. Attached to the lanyard hole with old copper is a well incised brass tag that reads "R. CRUSE/C.S. MORGAN followed by an Anchor. This tag may have been an old Museum or Collector Tag.
The knife measures approx. 7 1/2". Blade is approx. 3". There are primitive iron pins holding the stag sides to the knife. It is functional.
Very hard to acquire any CSN identified. artifacts.
Not even close, the knife is a 1950-70`s Japanese made folder.
