I posted a topic in a forum and then found another forum where it was more specific. There is just sooooo much information here...glad I got tomorrow off. 
My other hobby is Civil War relic hunting with a metal detector. This was found a few years ago here in Atlanta. I actually only found the handle. I had a historical blacksmith fabricate the blade to the specs of the original knife. While the handle is impressive (if you know what it is) It is much more so with the blade...It brings to mind that quote "thats not a knife...Now THIS is a knife
It is a McElroy Bowie made in Macon early in the Civil War. It is a variant of the lasso bowie. I was offered 900 for the handle just from a picture, but it is my FAVORITE dug relic, and true Confederate bowie. It is 18" long, the blade is 1/4" thick and weighs just over 2 lbs.
Below it are pictures of one that sold at auction a few years ago.
Thanks for looking.
Mike