I have a good Musso Bowie replica from Imperial Weapons with the same proportions and weight as this one (guard is brass, though, not iron). It is, indeed, a short sword rather than a knife. Somewhere, it has crossed that subtle line. In fact, it is really a small medieval falchion, the classic foot soldier's sword, and would have been right at home on the belt of a crossbowman or pikeman. Falchions were usually employed in conjunction with a small shield called a buckler, whereas these 19th century specimens were not. It can't be used with the subtle moves of the lighter, "dueling" Bowies, but with this one, you don't have to cut someone twice.