ulu's

[Birdman]

been doing some reading n wondering if anybody has and uses an Ulu knife, its the half moon shaped knife ya see up Alaska way, I have one I bought while on A cruise through the inside passage, its not the tourist mass produced knife but I found a blacksmith in Juno I beleive and bought the real thing, blade is made from a circular saw blade ans is awesome sharp. Actually very handy n easy to use once ya get used to it. From the reading it said they could be found basicly in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska but have actually been found in the Canadian Maritimes n New Englend areas, not many but a few, the guess is they came overland by Native Traders. Just wondering if any body uses or owns one. --just some thoughts YMHS Birdman

 

[Black Hand]

I made one and used it a couple of times. I prefer a 10" Chefs knife.

 

[jeffdrown]

I have used them for years. I even made one with stone blade.

 

[necchi]

Yup,
Have one I got some years back, much like you describe, made from a saw mill blade.
It's a small one roughly 2 3/4-3" blade. And yeah it's handi, used too use it alot for cutting fringe till I got a circular cutter and board.

Now it's a keep sake as the Gent that made it is gone,,

 

[Bruce Bogart]

Here's mine. Made by a good friend that I haven't heard from in awhile. I really like it!!!

 

[Birdman]

they really are easy to use and it just takes some getting used to doing it, we are so conditioned to a longer bladed knife it is sorta weird at first useing one, I really like it in the kitchen n might start carrying it while out n about for cooking dutys, pretty kool knife if ya get a real one n not a stamped out tourist piece
--just some thoughts YMHS Birdman

 

[zimmerstutzen]

My FIL brought a "tourista" one back from Alaska for me. it doesn't hold a good edge, but came in really handy a few times. Enough that I considered making one.

 

[BrownBear]

We use the heck out of them. They require a rocking motion with your wrist that most people have to learn, but learn it and you'll be a fan for everything from filleting fish to skinning and butchering. Funny thing, I almost never use one in the kitchen!

Over the years I've had the chance to work on a bunch of archeo digs up here and pour through museum collections. There are slate ones around that date back well over 3k years, so it's not surprising that they'd move around old trade networks.

And yeah, since the arrival of steel saws, saw blades have been the material of choice. Circ saws today and plain old hand saws before electricity.

 

[Rifleman1776]

My son lived in Alaska for several years. He gave us an ulu. It is in the kitchen but goes unused. I really do not care for how it works. Methinks there is a reason the rest of the world does not use this blade style.

 

[crockett]

I notice you're in PA so maybe you are not just focusing on Alaska. That half moon shape is very similar to the stone (flint or obsidian) skinning knives used by some plains tribes- like the Sioux. These tools were or a crescent shape that you held in the middle. No handle was attached. That same circular edge works very well.

 

[rafterob]

My Dad brought some back from Alaska ( the production style) I like mine but don't use it much except for skinning and scraping the occaisional hide. I worked as a Chef for a long time so I am more comfortable with chef's knives. My Sister-in law has become expert with her Ulu and has the cutting board with the hollow in it.She uses it almost exclusively in her kitchen.

 

[crockett]

One of the first knives I bought (as a kid) was one of the eliptical shaped Russell Canadian Belt Knives (Nova Scotia). Mine has the original hand cut lines on top. In any event that curved edge just seems to work better than a flat or straight edge.

 

[Reb_Cav2]

I have an Ulu and love it. I used it to butcher a deer a few years back (not a very successful hunter) and my friends could not believe how quickly I was able to make the cuts and I told them it is easy when the knife tip is at your finger tip. It is easy to do blind cuts because it is right at your hand now 10" tip to be watchful for.
Thank you for reminding me I think I need to place another order since mine are getting old and I would like one for my pack.

 

[BrownBear]

You reminded me of something I've been meaning to try. About half of the slate ulu's we've recovered on archeo digs were on the order of modern ones size-wise and curve-wise. But the others were lots smaller, ranging down to about 2.5" with the same curve. It's always struck me that one of those small ulu's of modern steel would be the perfect addition to a hunting pack.