A Chinese Republic Naval Officer's Dagger 1927-1948

Measuring 402 mm in length with the scabbard on, nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, fuller in the middle of the blade on both sides, with dull edges and having a sharp tip, exhibiting the usual in and out runner marks and scattered surface wear, the blade measuring 272 mm in length, rating near very fine, the dagger itself measuring 397 mm. Brass crossguard and ferrule, the wooden handle in faux tortoise shell and wrapped in eight rows of twisted wire, the handle exhibiting chipping in the clear laminate, bronze plates on either side with blue, red, light green and emerald green enamels, both plates illustrating two crossed flags: the Naval Jack at the left and the Republican flag at the right, with the Republican sun between the two flags and surrounded by various leafing, three large Republican suns and two plum blossoms below, a Republican sun on the pommel's cap, with scattered chipping evident in the enamels throughout. The scabbard with a silvered bronze body, non-magnetic, the u-shaped finial, locket and throat in bronze with blue, red, light green and emerald green enamels, both illustrating the Republican sun, plum blossoms and leafing on both sides, exhibiting dents, along with contact marks and surface wear on the entire body, plus scattered chipping evident in the enamels throughout, the scabbard measuring 274 mm. Fine.