KUOMINTANG AIR FORCE DAGGER

KUOMINTANG AIR FORCE DAGGER
An excessively rare relic, an ornate ceremonial dirk and scabbard held by officers of the Kuomintang Air Force during World War II, 8.5" blade, 13.25" overall, with a wooden handle, glued with transparent polymer material with transverse grooves, along which it is wrapped with three rows of wire. The brass head and back represent a bird figure with folded wings and red beaded eyes, and the brass cross guard bears an engraved spread-winged bird. The blade itself remains sharp at the tip and retains much of the original finish, minus some spots of pitting. The original steel scabbard bears brass floral embellishments at tip and towards the base, and the upper half also shows some pitting and loss to the finish. All-in-all, a highly desirable piece in very good condition!