Ulus

[ChrisKavanaugh]

With the Scandinavian knives a popular blade choice, I thought a post about another northern knife might be of interest. Ulus ( ooloos) are a very old circumpolar blade associated with modern Inuits, but also known to many subpolar peoples as well. They were long made of slate and ivory until the advent of steels. I was stationed in Alaska when a new company began marketing a modern stainless steel version www.theulufactory.com in Anchorage. Another alaskan maker, www.ulumaker.com follows more traditional patterns and uses antler for handles and a carbon steel used in making saws. I bought one of the very first modern Ulus and have a Kuskokwim from the second. Ulus are used to skin and butcher meat and cut clothing patterns. They are also outstanding food processors for vegetable food prep. They make for fun projects to construct and are a nice bit of kit.

 

[OldJimbo]

Along the food processing line, there's also the mezzaluna from Italy. Any great design is widepread..

Personally I always admired Hoodoo for coming up with his tin can lid ulu - made from half a can lid bound in a stick. Being more tactically inclined I use the tops of 45 gallon drums for mine...
On a more serious note the better made ulu's have to be one of the most egonomic designs of all time as well as incredibly adaptable to so many tasks.
I even have an Outdoor Edge Gameskinner which is highly ulu influenced

 

[TheViking]

Hi...

Or if the picture doesn't work: http://projectfreedom.org/images/ulu knife.jpg

 

[alick]

They do have an attractive blade shape. More pronounced but not dissimilar to an axe head. Next time I'm setting out to prepare a pile of vegetables, I plan to do them with the GB wildlife hatchet to see how that works ):
Cheers