Unusual dagger for I.D. and comment.

[colin henshaw]

Hi

This strange dagger came recently with some ethnographic items I wanted.

The handle has an unusual triple bar type construction, one bar of which ends in a snake head. Length of dagger only is about 26cm. In fact it fits well in the hand and feels like a serious weapon, not a decoration piece. From the patina and wear to the scabbard, I would say it has been worn, probably on a belt for quite some time. Maybe a fighting knife of some sort, perhaps a one-off ?

Can anyone identify this piece ?

Thanks in advance.