Usefulness of the Ulu??

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evancamp13

Joined
Aug 17, 2012
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Hey guys, thought this was the right place to ask such a question. I was browsing the RMJ Tactical website this morning and saw a new product for sale. They call it the Iron Ulu:



Now from my understanding, this was considered in its original design to be a "women's knife" from its Alaskan origins. This appears to be geared towards "survival/bushcraft" type tasks with a more manly design. Question for you all, what is the real usefulness of this design? I can't imagine it being great for chopping or cutting tasks that require any real leverage, because there really is no lever, your hand is directly behind the blade, so you have no real leverage for cutting. I'm looking for just a good all around knife for camping/bushcraft and the cost is not inhibiting for me as much as wanting something that is going to be very useful for many tasks. Thoughts on this thing???
 
evancamp13 said:
I'm looking for just a good all around knife for camping/bushcraft and the cost is not inhibiting for me as much as wanting something that is going to be very useful for many tasks. Thoughts on this thing???
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Get a Vic Farmer instead.
 
The original Ulu is for one hand use and the similar but larger Italian MezzaLuna has two handles for two hand use . Stainlees I would prefer for food processing.
 
I have classic designed ulu and it it great for processing/breaking down chicken and other meats as well as veggies, so it is great at multi use food and game prep. historically this it's role was a mulit use, utility blade for processing game as its design allowed for the type of tasks I use it for as well as thing things like scraping hides. It could also be pressed into service as a hand ax or lashed to a pole for slightly heavier task. The RMJ design looks to be similar as a camping blade, but heavier duty. However the ulu, I don't think, was ever intended to be a " the only blade I carry" type surival knife, nor was it intended as a bushcraft knife as it really isn't intended to do many of the fine carving type tasks that are associated with that skill set. IMO I like that RMJ Ulu alot personally, but I don't thank that it will fulfill the role you are looking through buy for. I do think that would make of and excellent companion carry to a good bushcraft knife tho.
 
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My wife uses an ulu and loves it, been using it for years. But it is a more traditional ulu than the one you posted.
 
See KAEDC above. It is a fish and game processing/food prep knife, NOT a general "bushcraft" knife. Also great for chopping nuts, herbs, etc, in a curved wooden bowl instead of a food processor.
 
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And besides, we all know that the only real survival ulu is the TOPS ATAX.


ATAX_zps2dteazji.jpg

Tops-Atax-Multi-Use-Tool_zpspseawyhp.jpg


I mean...look at the gadgets and blade stencilling! You're a dead man in the woods without it. :D
 
I plan on trying out an ulu at some point.
The Inuit seemed to find them useful for God knows how many centuries or millennia...it probably has some utility to it.

I cannot say yet though, as I have not got one. :(
 
Tops can always be counted on for ridiculous names, prices, and designs. Sure, if love to spend $150 on powdercoated cheap carbon steel with a name like DESERT RAIDER (says the guy who, admittedly, just bought a trio of knives with black coated blades with the words "BROKEN SKULL" on them, but, hey, I'm not about to let perspective get in the way of my hypocrisy)

The Ulu design seems pretty optimal for people who do a lot of food prep, but I don't see that it would have much utility outside of that scenario.
 
Comeuppance said:
Tops can always be counted on for ridiculous names, prices, and designs. Sure, if love to spend $150 on powdercoated cheap carbon steel with a name like DESERT RAIDER (says the guy who, admittedly, just bought a trio of knives with black coated blades with the words "BROKEN SKULL" on them, but, hey, I'm not about to let perspective get in the way of my hypocrisy)

The Ulu design seems pretty optimal for people who do a lot of food prep, but I don't see that it would have much utility outside of that scenario.
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I absolutely love them for that. "Baghdad Box Cutter"? "Devil's Elbow"? "Grim Ripper"? C'mon! Priceless. And "Cockpit Commander" always makes me giggle for some reason.
 
My main encounters with ulus has been in camp kitchen. I've been able to play with a few on some mountaineering and whitewater trips where a major kitchen was part of camp for a number of days.

They are handy for some areas of food prep and, true to the stereotype, I've seen mainly women using them....in food prep.

I have an old one I use for cutting leather--nothing better if the ulu is good and sharp.
 
marcinek said:
And besides, we all know that the only real survival ulu is the TOPS ATAX.


ATAX_zps2dteazji.jpg

Tops-Atax-Multi-Use-Tool_zpspseawyhp.jpg


I mean...look at the gadgets and blade stencilling! You're a dead man in the woods without it. :D
Click to expand...

Oh Man, Marci... that puppy is the James Bond of ULU's.

If somebody put on a class on how to process an elk with an Ulu, I would take the class. Just to learn the capabilities / functionalities.

But I couldn't see picking up that TOPS abomination even if I was window shopping on a Segway.
 
Blade Tech makes a Ulu folder. Looks pretty useful. I went to a catholic school in the 70s that had that survival pizza. Stuff never went bad and it chipped our teeth.
 
An Ulu is awesome for making chicken salad. I bought one for my wife and kids for “chopping” veggies and other food. Now it is a silent task. they cant seem to do it with a knife without banging the cutting board.

Its a valuable design but not for everything or everyone.

There is a video out there of a champion Salmon cleaner. She uses an Ulu like a magic wand.
 
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