Ferdinand and Francis Cook, immigrants to Louisiana from England, determined at the outset of War "that rifles could be made here as well as in Yankee land or in Europe.” And proceeded to open a weapon manufactory at Number One, Canal Street in New Orleans in June of 1861. The Cooks knew what they were talking about, as well as what they were doing. As the rifle they produced was said by an ordnance officer to be "superior to any that I have seen of Southern manufacture." Its quality was truly not excelled by any other Southern manufactory during the War, and with the exception of raw materials, not anywhere in the world.

When New Orleans surrendered in April of 1862, the brothers moved their company to Athens, Georgia and set up a manufactory there to produce rifles, carbines, bayonets, swords, carbine slings, cutlasses, pikes, as well as other articles of war.

The weapon shown here is a rare maker marked example of the company’s cutlass. The richly patinaed brass grip and guard remain as tight as when it was made and the COOK & BROTHER stamping on the upper and outer side of the counterguard is clear. The blade has some small nicks along it and it has been filed at some point a good many years ago. Some of the original dark patina on the blade can be seen at the ricasso. The point has not been retipped.

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