Kuomintang Dagger
 

Hello everyone, here are some photos of a Chinese Republic Kuomintang Army Officers dress dagger, 1927 / 1948 for interest and comment. It is a well made piece but shows signs of wear, particularly of the scabbard plating. The hilt fittings are of brass and tortoise shell.
O/L is 14.5 ins, blade length is 9.75 ins x 1 ins wide.
I think the design is a blend of German Facist and Chinese.
Regards
Miguel

and more
 

I see a strong Japanese influence. Shown is a WWII Japanese naval dirk.

Hi Miguel,
The general design of your Koumintang seems to be a popular one. There are many copies using this same design, available today in the markets of Hong Kong and Shanghai. Here is an example of a copy which I have using the design.
I hasten to add that I am not for one minute suggesting that yours is a copy, but simply that the design is similar.
Stu

You are right Marcus I should have said Japanese influence not Chinese, thanks for pointing this out. Nice navel dirk by the way.
Miguel

Hi Stu, Thanks for the info and photos, I didn't know about these copies and am fairly sure that mine is not a copy, I hope :confused:
Regards
Miguel

THE FIRST CHINESE DAGGER LOOKS LIKE AN ORIGINAL ONE OF THE MODELS ISSUED. THEY WERE NOT AS WELL MADE AS THE JAPANESE DAGGERS. THEY HAVE IMITATION TURTLE SHELL ON THE GRIPS. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE PARTS ON THIS DAGGER. :)

Thank you for your comments Vandoo, your point about the Tortoise shell confirms something I read about these Daggers but I cant remember where.
Regards
Miguel

Pfew, good to know that the chinese where protecting endangered species in those days.
:rolleyes:

Nice dagger btw. I do not see the german fascist influence.

Hi Asomotif,

Sorry I missed your reply, You are quite correct there is no resemblance to a Nazi Fascist dagger, I must have had to much wine :D I had been reading about the hlp given by the German Fascists to the Formosan military and got mixed up. The dagger resembles the Italian Fascists than the German IMHO.

Regards

Miguel