PI 1st Republic Dagger Bone Snake

Battara · 16th August 2021, 05:52 AM

Greetings folks,

Been a while since I posted something new. I got this off of eBay a while back, so it took a while to find time to restore this. The original tang was cut and the silver cap was missing on the pommel, as well as the middle silver band on the scabbard and the bottom silver chase. All of these I restored.

What is interesting is the pommel in the shape of a coiled snake (including silver wire and silver eyes). I have another dagger that also has a coiled snake on it. The symbolism? - not sure. The only thing I found was an old Batangas Tagalog myth of the dahong palay, which is an extremely poisonous green snake. Could this have been used as a talisman by Batangas owners during the Philippine-American War? This might go with the sinuous blade........

Enjoy the pictures.

drac2k · 16th August 2021, 07:24 PM

Beautiful work as well as a fantastic dagger; Can you show the before restoration pictures?
How long is the blade?

Sajen · 16th August 2021, 10:45 PM

Hi Jose,
Beautiful dagger! And well restored. How long is the dagger?

Regards,
Detlef

Rick · 17th August 2021, 02:01 AM

Serpentine grip, serpentine blade go well together.

Battara · 17th August 2021, 06:56 AM

Sure.

The blade is 9.5 inches long.

Here are the pre-restoration pictures:

16th August 2021, 05:52 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	PI 1st Republic Dagger Bone Snake Greetings folks, Been a while since I posted something new. I got this off of eBay a while back, so it took a while to find time to restore this. The original tang was cut and the silver cap was missing on the pommel, as well as the middle silver band on the scabbard and the bottom silver chase. All of these I restored. What is interesting is the pommel in the shape of a coiled snake (including silver wire and silver eyes). I have another dagger that also has a coiled snake on it. The symbolism? - not sure. The only thing I found was an old Batangas Tagalog myth of the dahong palay, which is an extremely poisonous green snake. Could this have been used as a talisman by Batangas owners during the Philippine-American War? This might go with the sinuous blade........ Enjoy the pictures. Attached Images

17th August 2021, 06:56 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Sure. The blade is 9.5 inches long. Here are the pre-restoration pictures: Attached Images

16th August 2021, 07:24 PM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Beautiful work as well as a fantastic dagger; Can you show the before restoration pictures? How long is the blade?

16th August 2021, 10:45 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hi Jose, Beautiful dagger! And well restored. How long is the dagger? Regards, Detlef

17th August 2021, 02:01 AM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Serpentine grip, serpentine blade go well together.