A Chinese Kuomintang Army Officer's Dagger

Measuring 403 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 a semi-sharp tip, exhibiting the usual in and out runner marks and scattered surface wear, the blade measuring 255 mm in length and rating better than fine. Brass crossguard and ferrule, the latter held in place by a screw on the reverse, oxidation evident on the upper of the crossguard, the handle in faux tortoise shell and wrapped in eight rows of twisted wire, the wire loose on two rows, bronze plates on either side illustrating plum blossoms, oxidation evident on one plate, with crossed flags of the Kuomintang and the Republic at the pommel end, a Republic sun insignia on the pommel's cap with a slight dent present, the dagger measuring 378 mm in length. The scabbard with a silvered brass body, non-magnetic, the u-shaped finial and locket in bronze, both held in place by a single screw, each illustrating plum blossoms, the locket slightly loose, the scabbard measuring 278 mm in length, the body of the scabbard exhibiting scattered silvering loss and dents from active use. Fine. Footnote: The Kuomintang is a Chinese political party that ruled China from 1927 to 1948 and then moved to Taiwan. The name translates as "China's National People's Party" and was historically referred to as the Chinese Nationalists. The Party was initially founded on August 25, 1912, by Sun Yat-sen but dissolved in November 1913. It reformed on October 10, 1919, again led by Sun Yat-sen, and became the ruling party in China. After Sun's death, the party was dominated from 1927 to 1975 by Chiang Kai-shek. Though the KMT lost the civil war with the Communist Party of China in 1949, the party took control of Taiwan and remains a major political party of the Republic of China based in Taiwan.