WANTED Forged Carbon Ulu Blade only

[Tom A Hawk]

Is there a bladesmith here who would be able to forge an ulu blade to my specs? I have a moose antler handle and need to put a blade with it. No stainless Knives of Alaska types please. Please contact to discuss details. Thanks.

 

[leverfred]

If you get a hold of a guy named Noah Wilder in Michigan, he will make what you want. I have a few he has forged.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Any contact information? I'd send smoke signals but we don't get an east wind very often...

 

[leverfred]

http://wilderforge.com/

 

[Straekat]

Jymn Hoffman is a Pittsburgh area smith who has made items for the Fort Pitt Museum, Fort Ligonier, and custom orders for all sorts of things. In addition to a large stationary shop, he has a traveling forge and goes to many re-enactments, and also the Fort Frederick market-fair.

Send him an email along with a photo (with scale) or drawing and he'd be able to make you something you'd be happy having.

http://www.hoffmansforge.com/

 

[BrownBear]

If you want to stay traditional, cut it from a handsaw blade. The locals still cherish and use those old originals, and they all have the skinny blades. The heavy ones you see today are strictly tourist trade. Big reason for the light blades is weight. It's all wrist action sideways to use them, and heavy ones end your work day in a hurry.

 

[Louisk]

There's also a guy from my neck of the woods who does nice work: http://www.markknappcustomknives.com/knives/alaskan-ulus/

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have heard of guys making them from old high carbon circular saw blades. Which are hard as crap to find now anyway. Had the opportunity to use one once. Impressive. If you talk to a knife maker make sure he understands what you want or you may end up with a triangiular meat cleaver.

 

[BrownBear]

I have heard of guys making them from old high carbon circular saw blades.

The most common blades you see out where people live with them and use them all the time are hand saw blades, often using one of the original handle holes for mounting their own handles.

 

[Black Hand]

Ulu I made with a handsaw steel blade and a Whitetail deer antler handle. Haven't used it much, but I do play with it from time to time - still figuring out the technique.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Nice job. Pretty much the design I have in mind. I like the ulu for skinning.

 

[BrownBear]

Haven't used it much, but I do play with it from time to time - still figuring out the technique.

For best results, don't hold it vertically except for chopping cuts. Hold the blade horizontal to the ground and orient what you're cutting toward the blade- like a fish laying on its side. To cut rotate the ulu back and forth by flexing your wrist rather than swinging your arm. That lets you take advantage of the whole sweep of the blade. Really quick and efficient. I'm a skilled fish filleter, but standing beside almost any skilled old Native user, they flat leave me in her wake, the ulu cuts so fast and accurate compared to a conventional knife.

 

[Black Hand]

For best results, don't hold it vertically except for chopping cuts. Hold the blade horizontal to the ground and orient what you're cutting toward the blade- like a fish laying on its side. To cut rotate the ulu back and forth by flexing your wrist rather than swinging your arm. That lets you take advantage of the whole sweep of the blade. Really quick and efficient. I'm a skilled fish filleter, but standing beside almost any skilled old Native user, they flat leave me in her wake, the ulu cuts so fast and accurate compared to a conventional knife.

Thanks!