Military Collectibles

St. Croix Blades BUYS military knives.  Call us at 715-557-1688 to sell your rare knife or collection.

1 historically important U.S. World War II Nichols fighting knife with Alfred Cornish sheath.  This knife was carried by a U.S. Navy fighter pilot Ace.  This WW2 Ace fighter pilot was credited with 9 kills.  This Nichols knife, with its exceptional provenance to a U.S. Ace pilot, would make an important addition to any U.S. or world militaria collection.

The Cornish sheath is stamped ‘D. CLYDE FREEMAN  U.S.N.   LOS ANGELES, CALIF. U.S.A.‘.  The guard on the knife is stamped ‘LOS ANGELES  CALIF. U.S.A.‘. 

His nickname was ‘Chico’ Freeman.  Chico’s real first name was Doris, named after his mother–a common-enough practice at the time.  Chico Freeman named his Corsair fighter plane ‘L.A. CITY LIMITS‘. 

This knife has a 7 3/8″ blade.  This knife measures 12 5/16″ overall.  The knife’s pommel is stamped ‘NICHOLS‘ above the inlayed U.S. Buffalo nickel coin.

The top of the sheath is stamped ‘ALFRED CORNISH  OMAHA,NEB‘.

As mentioned above, Chico Freeman downed 9 enemy planes in flight (a pilot becomes an Ace after earning 5 enemy kills).  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross 4 times.  He was killed on the U.S.S. Bunker Hill by a kamikaze attack along with 345 other sailors and airmen on May 11, 1945.  His service number was 0-156794.  All of these records are easily confirmed by an internet search.  To find these records, remember to search using variations of his name and nickname like:  Chico Freeman pilot, Doris Clyde Freeman Ace, D Clyde Freeman Ace, etc.