James' Michigan Knives

Lets see some of James's Michigan knives. A boatload recently got listed. I was fortunate to snag this beautiful fossil walrus 5" hammer-marked upswept hunter in a Jack Mosher sheath NLA.

Here's another that I've had for some time now. I believe James calls these a South Dakota Skinner. I think the handle was moose tine. What a great little knife, sharp as hell with a convex blade grind. Nice Mosher pocket sheath too, (no clip).

Warren,

That fossil walrus 5" hammer-marked upswept hunter in that Mosher sheath is fantastic; what a knife!!! Warren you have a great eye for beautiful knives.

Tom Flynn

Thank you Tom. James has the eye for the artistic.

Pretty sure this is a Michigan knife. I purchased it in about 2004. Sadly, it is gone.

Behring-1 by Bill Singer, on Flickr

I believe that is a Jim Behring not a James Jr. knife.

Yes, Mr. Polidori. Apologies. Didn't understand we were talking of James Jr. I wasn't sure if Jim Sr. had moved to Montana also. Both are making superior knives.

No apologies necessary. Jim is still in Michigan. There something of both Jim Sr. and James Jr in that recent lot.

One of James Jr's Michigan knives handled in whales tooth with a Musk Ox spacer.

Sexy! I like that 2 tone sheath as well!

I think Jack did Alot like that. It does look good. Man his workmanship was great.

Warren,

The Whale's Tooth is beautiful. That is one special sheath/knife combination!

Tom Flynn

Thanks Tom,

The tip is oriented so it curves around the back of your hand. It feels so natural when you pick it up, James did a great job.

Warren
Killer knife
so Sharp
tks
Sharpi

Thanks Sharpi. This one may get scrimmed one day, who knows.

Warren, all the knives you posted are great... but that whale tooth is really something special! I have not seen one like that before.

I have found James' Michigan forged knives to be a exciting niche to collect as they are limited and do not surface often. Here is a pair of "early MI" crown stag knives I picked up a few weeks back... they are paired with the old school Mosher sheaths.

Have a good week fellas,

Jay

Jay,

I believe Chief had several whales teeth that James used to make these knives. Those are great examples of old school knives. Thanks for the post.

*edit*

I am definitely interested in one!

Behring Dentistry for you toothless people!
Almost sorry...... I couldn't resist lol!
another example.

Fantastic knife Chief!

Chief
Hammered steel & pinned
Very toothie
Sharpi

Here's something special from James Jr. These are all Michigan Blades and are design inspired from Bo Randall's first knife. James made 3 blade lengths in 4",7",9" all in Mosher sheaths again Bo inspired. A heck of a trio, hope you agree.



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Becky is pretty impressed with these!

Holy cow Warren. Fantastic!

That's an awesome set.

Thanks for the comments. I'm really happy to have added these to my Behring collection. James told me he made about 20 of the 4" and 7" knives so they're out there somewhere. I'm hoping others might post them as well.

These Michigan camp combos by James are rare birds. This old school set is exceptional. Mosher leather of the day.

Those are definitely the bomb.

Pap

Fantastic trio.

The knife and ax are great.

Their all really handy in my book!

They are for sure Steve. Thanks guys for the kind reply.

This must be an early one - James stamped his mark on this blade upside down. (Usually you only do this once.)

Hard to see the stamp but if its a "J Behring Handmade" stamp it's a Michigan knife. I have one that was forged recently that's a BMK/ Mudbone stamp also upside down.

These aren't from Michigan - done when James first moved to Montana. This is the first fork James ever made, - thought you might appreciate it. I bought the knife, 4 1/2" blade, and it was so beautiful I pictured it carving up a 2" thick porterhouse, - so I really needed a fork. - A few emails & conversations resulted in this pair. Beautiful cocobola.

Special set. Very nice!

Purdy

Hey Guys,

This is a great thread with some rare knives. I have enjoyed collecting James' MI made knives. Here's a picture of what I've come up with so far... It's a fun niche to collect.

Have a great week,

Jay

Nice collection of old school knives Jay. 4th from the top is killer.
I resized Jay for easier viewing.

GREAT POST Jay!!
Excellent collection you have there!

Beauty beauty beauty!!!!

I like the 2nd from the bottom blade & the bottom crows beak stag handle! Sexy!

Kinda like this.

Purdy. Can't see the stamp, is a Michigan?

Montana.

Thought so. Superb none the less.

Sweet
Looks like a sparrow
Sharpi

Great collection Jay.

Jay great collection there!

Tom Flynn

Chief,

That is a real beauty! Good looking everything on that one. Sheath?

Tom Flynn

Great looking knife Chief.

Thank you for the nice comments on the MI knives guys!

Chief... what a knife... and looks like Mudbone did some magic on your lanyard... awesome!

Sheath
Thanks all. Didn't mean to highjack just noticed that we like similar blade style.

But My all time, gets the job done camp knife from Michigan.

Thanks for the sheath pic's Chief!

That is a great sheath from Mudbone, nicely done.

Tom Flynn

Great looking knife Chief.

Thanks Guys!

Another Mich. Knife

Nice one George. Unusual to see with a Sullivan sheath and not a Mosher.

Picked up this One from Capt.

Looks like a Woodcraft blade. Like those alot.

I like the old Woodcraft design. James called this one an Alaskan Woodcraft. The other one I had pictured turned out to be an early Montana woodcraft with a Mosher sheath, I removed that picture.

I did notice that. The blade reminiscent of the old Marbles Woodcraft. Nice pair for sure.

Very nice '86.

Pap

It's a model 71 deluxe , bolt peep, long tang, pre war 1937.

Great looking knives.

That's right, the Model 71 in.348 was the real Alaskan rifle n it's day. Nice one.

Pap

Hey guys, I'll post better pictures once the package arrives, but just scored this musk ox boss from James' Michigan days in a trade. Can't wait to get it in! Really fun niche of knives to collect. Look forward to catching-up with many of you next month. Have a good week, Jay

Great piece of OX!

Thank you Chief!

Awesome Musk Ox
Sharpi

Michigan made James Jr. Brass hilt, FWI spacer, stag, compass, Mosher leather.

Nice little knife!!!

I bet that it is a skinnin' dude!

Nice one Warren.

Thanks guys.

Very nice for sure.
Walker

Keeper!!

Oh yes and thanks.

just wondering why James Michigan knives blades are small? still learning about knives and there makers

They weren't all small, the big ones are simply sitting in big safes somewhere

Wonder where they could be?

Here's a group of 4 Michigan and 1 Missoula made knives where three are ebony and ivory, one is micarta and ivory, and one is black horn and ivory.
All period correct Mosher sheaths in various patterns.

What a great set of knives.

Thanks Steve for the reply. Really superb craftsmanship.

Warren
Superb collection. The black and white contrast really makes them pop!

Thanks much Rod. I'm really liking these alot.

New to me Alaskan Woodcraft. "J Behring Jr Handmade" from Michigan. Beautiful Mosher sheath. This knife was posted a couple years ago on page 7, but I'm the new owner now, so I wanted to post a couple pics. I really like the red and cream colored spacers. Kind of reminds me of the old Randall 7 spacer stack. Thanks for looking!

Awesome knife.

Yes,awsome knife and those Moser sheaths will definitely go through the roof.

Pap

Keeper!

Another great get, Nate!

Awesome knife!