6.675" clip point single-edged Bowie blade with 3" false edge and .375" choil. 11.375" in overall length. 4.75" German silver cutlery hilt with 2.15" oval German silver cross guard. Reverse ricassso marked EDWARD/BARNES & SONS/226 SCALY ST/SHEFFILED. Reverse of blade etched with a nearly full length flowing foliate scroll panel that reads CALIFORNIAN BOWIE in a ribbon. The knife is accompanied by a red Moroccan leather scabbard with German silver mounts and embossed decorations with gilt highlights. The upper mount is missing the frog button and is engraved on the reverse with what appears to read From/C.G. Finch/to/H.S. Searle.

Several men with the first initial "H" and last name "Searle" served in the Union Army during the Civil War, although none are listed with the middle initial "S". There was a "Charles G Finch" listed as a private who fought in 91st Indiana Infantry during the war, enlisting on August 12, 1862 and dying on March 28, 1863. Further research may prove fruitful.