{"title":"Ulu Knives","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn ulu knife is a crescent-shaped, all-purpose knife with the handle set directly above a curved blade, so your hand pushes straight down through the cut. Developed by the Inuit, Iñupiat, Yup’ik, and Unangan (Aleut) peoples of the Arctic, the ulu is still used every day across Alaska and is now a favorite in kitchens far beyond it for rocking through herbs, vegetables, pizza and meat.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis collection brings together ulu knives in Damascus steel with handles in wood, bone, antler, and other materials, along with sets that pair a ulu with a cutting bowl or stand. Each listing shows the blade width, steel, handle material, edge grind, and what’s included, so you can compare ulus for the kitchen, camp, display, or a gift.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShop Ulu Knives\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStart with blade size and handle style, then compare steel and what’s included. Product photos show the blade curve, the handle, and how they join, so you can see the shape before you choose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat Is an Ulu Knife?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn ulu knife is a traditional Arctic knife with a curved, fan- or crescent-shaped blade and a handle fixed along the top of the blade instead of at one end. The word ulu means “woman’s knife” in Inuktitut, because it was traditionally a woman’s everyday tool for preparing food, cleaning hides, and sewing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEarly ulus had blades of ground slate, and in some regions copper. Steel replaced them after contact with 19th-century traders and whalers. Handles were made from caribou antler, muskox horn, walrus ivory, bone, or wood.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStyles vary by region. Alaskan ulu knives, in the Iñupiat style, usually have a blade with a cut-out center attached to the handle at two points. Canadian Inuit ulus often join the handle with a single central stem.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat Is an Ulu Knife Used For?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn ulu knife is used for chopping, mincing, slicing, and skinning. Its centered handle drives your hand’s force straight down over the middle of the blade, which gives more power and control than a standard knife for cutting through tough food, cartilage, or hide.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTraditionally, the ulu was used to skin and clean seals, caribou, and fish, cut meat, trim hides for clothing, and even shape blocks of snow. Today, many people use an Alaska knife ulu at home as an everyday kitchen tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe rocking cut that minces herbs also makes quick work of onions, garlic, nuts, salad greens, chocolate, and cooked meats. An ulu also cuts pizza and flatbreads cleanly in one roll, without dragging the toppings. Outdoors, hunters and anglers use it to clean fish and process small game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause the blade rocks and pins food against the board, many people find an ulu easier to use with one hand than a standard knife. That makes it a popular choice for cooks with limited grip strength or arthritis.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlaskan Ulu Kitchen Knives\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlaskan ulu kitchen knives are used with a rocking motion. Place the center of the blade on the food, then rock it from one end of the curve to the other, keeping the edge on the board. For finer pieces, gather the food together and rock again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA ulu works best on a wooden or plastic cutting board, or in a matching ulu bowl. Ulu bowls are shallow wooden bowls carved with a curve that matches the blade, so the edge meets the wood evenly as you rock and the food stays contained.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChoosing the Right Ulu Knife\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlade Size\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUlus come in several sizes, with blades from small, about 3 to 4 inches wide, to large, about 6 inches or more. Smaller ulus suit garlic, herbs, and fine trimming. Larger ulus handle pizza, cabbage, big cuts of meat, and fish. Check each listing for the blade width.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdge Grind\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMany Alaskan ulus are sharpened on one side only, with the other side flat, which helps the blade rock cleanly and makes sharpening simple. Others are sharpened on both sides. When you sharpen, follow the original grind. Each listing notes the grind where it’s specified.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSteel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarbon steel takes a keen edge and sharpens easily, but it needs drying to prevent rust. Stainless steel is more rust-resistant for kitchen use. Damascus blades show a layered pattern from different steels forged together, so every ulu looks a little different. How well a blade cuts depends on the steels used and the heat treatment, not the pattern alone. Each listing names the steel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHandle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWood handles give a warm grip and are the most common today. Bone and antler handles have a traditional look and natural texture. The handle should feel secure across your whole hand, since you press straight down on it. Each listing names the handle material.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlaskan Ulu Knife Set\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn Alaskan ulu knife set usually pairs an ulu with a wooden bowl, a display stand, or both. The bowl gives you a curved cutting surface, and the stand protects the edge and displays the knife on the counter. Sets are popular housewarming, wedding, and holiday gifts. Check each set’s listing to see exactly what’s included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCustom Ulu Knife Options\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA custom ulu knife can carry a name, initials, a date, or a short message, which makes it a personal gift. Engraving usually fits best on the handle or on the flat of the blade. Check each listing for the personalization options available on that ulu, or contact us if you have something specific in mind.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUlu Knives for Sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur ulu knives for sale include single ulus and complete sets. If you’re searching for an Alaskan knife ulu, please note that our ulus are ulu-style knives. Unless a listing says otherwise, they are not made in Alaska or by Alaska Native artists. Each product page states where the knife is made.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUlu vs Mezzaluna\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn ulu and a mezzaluna both use a curved blade and a rocking motion, but they’re held differently. A mezzaluna, from Italy, usually has a handle at each end and is rocked with two hands. An ulu has one handle centered over the blade, so it works with one hand and can also slice, skin, and trim, not just chop. Choose a mezzaluna for two-handed herb chopping. Choose a ulu for an all-purpose knife you can control with one hand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaring for an Ulu Knife\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand wash and dry the ulu right after use. Dishwashers can dull the edge and damage wood, bone, and antler handles. Keep a light coat of food-safe oil on carbon steel and Damascus blades.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStore the ulu on its stand, in a sheath, or with an edge guard, because the long exposed edge is easy to bump. Oil wooden bowls and handles occasionally so they don’t dry out or crack.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/www.minhasforge.com\/collections\/ulu-knives.oembed","provider":"Minhas Forge","version":"1.0","type":"link"}