Do you Ulu??

mneedham

mneedham

Joined
Jul 8, 2006
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Yep, I like ulu knives.. Normally associated with native peoples in some of the colder areas, I think the ulu is handy blade. The concept is pretty simple, you have a half-moon shaped blade attached to handle or a grip. The knife works well for chopping, slicing and scraping. It doesn't work for every knife task so I usually couple it with another blade when outdoors (I normally carry my SAK trekker in my pocket with the TOPS ATAX ulu on by belt). I saw one in a department store kitchen some years ago (the one with black plastic handles), tried it on some veggies, and it has been used in my kitchen since... A little different, but it has a lot of uses in the woods and camp. Anybody else like them in the woods?

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Never tried one, but I bet they would be good for the kitchen. Isn't mesa-luna for herbs essentially an Ulu knife?
 
kgd said:
Never tried one, but I bet they would be good for the kitchen. Isn't mesa-luna for herbs essentially an Ulu knife?
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Yes it is... The Inuit use the ulu primarily for processing game, but it is the same concept. My kitchen ulus are used mostly on veggies and herbs, you have a lot of control, by virtue of the grip orientation, for fine chopping...
 
the tops atax has always interested me. it seems like a very versitile tool.

making fuzzies with that sort of blade must be a please since it doesnt strain your wrist as much.

thanks for the pics.
 
mneedham said:
Yep, I like ulu knives.. Normally associated with native peoples in some of the colder areas, I think the ulu is handy blade. The concept is pretty simple, you have a half-moon shaped blade attached to handle or a grip. The knife works well for chopping, slicing and scraping. It doesn't work for every knife task so I usually couple it with another blade when outdoors (I normally carry my SAK trekker in my pocket with the TOPS ATAX ulu on by belt). I saw one in a department store kitchen some years ago (the one with black plastic handles), tried it on some veggies, and it has been used in my kitchen since... A little different, but it has a lot of uses in the woods and camp. Anybody else like them in the woods?

mike396.jpg


mike398.jpg


mike399.jpg
Click to expand...
I have one like your upper left, Plastic antler looking with Alaska embossed in it. Use it on occasion for a switch. Rock it back and forth to dice. Have tried to flesh a deer hide out with one to braintan.
 
I have a knives of Alaska magnum ulu with a stag handle. and one like the one on right
black handle s/s blade The s/s one I have, a cheapo from walmart I think is the best thing I have ever used to section up squirrel and rabbits for cooking.
Roy
 
i made about 6 ulu knives about 15 years ago from tool steel saw blades that were used for cutting bar stock steel. and sold all but the one i have. i used it a few times cutting up deer. i tried skinning a deer once but kept cutting through the hide. i used to use it for chopping veggies but i put it up one day and never used it again. i had to use diamond and carbide to profile it out. you can shave steel with this one.
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My parents picked us up a set while in Alaska. It came with a slightly bowl shaped cutting board. The wife loves it in the kitchen, but I have yet to give it a shot.

Good looking pictures in this thread BTW!
 
I recently got a Dancing Man Shop Ulu from another member here as part of a trade. I've had it a week and haven't given it much of a work out yet.
Chris
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I use them on occasion, but not outdoors. They work well in the kitchen, but that is to be expected...they were a woman's knife. Some of the same peoples that used the ulus had men's knifes that were much closer in profile to a hunting knife.

Many don't realize there are like half a dozen distinct patterns, basically from different areas. They are sized differently as well. Some have a pronounced point on each side, others are more rounded, some are quite large...like 8" or better across.

I have done up an entire dinner with one, cutting, chopping, dicing, taking the seeds out of jalapenos, etc. I guess it was chili. I can imagine that with regular use they would become like part of you. I think if I designed my own, one end would have a bit more point than the other, so it could be used or not, depending on the task.
 
Here is one I designed and built. Camp kitchen ulu, field dressing and skinning tool, small ax for light work.

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I like the ULU design. I have a bladetech ulu, and would like to get a fixed. I couldn't see myself using it, and it'd only be for kitchen, and one of those knives you keep because it's cool.
 
Great pics.. Any Cal's comment about creating an extended point on one end is interesting.. On one side, it would seem to make it a more complete tool.. but than it might change its veggie chopping abilities.
 
RichardJ,

What are the dimensions of that ulu? Looks good...

jca21 - If you get an ATAX, you will find it on your belt a lot.. My really grew on me..
 
I have one I picked up after working a summer in Alaska. I haven't used it in 20 years, but it brings back great memories.
 
the ulu is 5 3/4" from point to point and 3 3/4" measured from the center to the handle top. i made it from a 9" tool steel saw blade that was 60rc. it ate up 2 brand new 60 grit belts just removing the teeth and grinding the single bevel. i made a wicked looking ulu that i mounted on the bottom half of a pool que for a friend. its made from another piece of saw blade thats slightly thicker than the other blade i used.
 
I think Normark belt axe is a similiar ulu type blade
I think they sold it as a skinning axe.
A whitetail skinner knife is essentially an ulu
 
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