Lot 220

WWII Nichols Knife with Sheath, Personalized to a U.S. Sailor

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WWII Nichols Knife with Sheath, Personalized to a U.S. Sailor

Estimate: $7,000 - $10,000

Starting Bid: $5,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Highly Desirable and Exceptional World War II Floyd Nichols Fighting Knife with Sheath Personalized for a U.S. Sailor in the Pacific Theater 12 1/2 inches overall, with a 7 1/4 inch swept point blade, protective copper plating on the ricasso and the steel guard, a contoured and ribbed brass grip, and a mameluke style pommel with an "Indian head" nickel and the stamp "NICHOLS" on the bottom. The ribbing bears markings identifying it as made out of Anaconda 997 brand welding rod, and the guard is stamped "ELMER L. VANOUS. U.S. NAVY" on the left side. The included brown leather Alfred Cornish (Omaha, NE) sheath is also marked "***ELMER L. VANOUS***/**U.S. NAVY**". Records are limited, but period newspapers indicate an Elmer L. Vanous hailing from Davis City, Nebraska, (hometown of the knifemaker and artisan Floyd F. Nichols) was inducted into the U.S. Navy in 1943 shortly after his high school graduation and by mid-1945 a Yeoman stationed at Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. His brother, John, went into the Army and was one of the American fatalities in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Returning to Davis City after the war, Elmer went into the gas industry and established a family, passing on c. 2005. While the exact history of the knife is unrecorded, many civilian makers got into the handmade knife game in World War II in response to a shortage of quality close combat weapons, Nichols among them, operating both on a mail order basis as well as directly selling to local boys and men heading off to the conflict. Vanous or his family likely bought the knife directly from Nichols.

Manufacturer: None

Model: None

Class: Other

  • Condition: Exceptionally fine overall, with a mixed gray patina on the blade, minor spotting and edge nicks, mild wear on the copper, and bright brass. The sheath is very fine, with minor scuffs and stains.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000