Alaskan Knife makers

[Whisky]

I’m on an Alaskan cruise right now and of course every port has a knife shop. Are there any well known Alaskan knife makers that I should be on the look out for? I’m primarily looking for an Ulu but am open to any fixed blade/bushcraft knife as well. I know they’ll be overpriced buying them in a port but I like to handle the knives I purchase rather than order them online.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Old Hippie]

Uluit are lovely knives. I have a couple and use them regularly. My favourite kitchen knife, as a matter of fact. There's another one in my bugout box.

That said, you're probably looking at the fairly standard stainless blade models made by the Ulu Factory. Little secret about those: they're really pretty good knives. Look a little touristy and schmaltzy, but they work like a charm. One of them lives by the cutting board next to the sink in our kitchen. I'm always grabbing it for chopping or slicing. Some people like the wood bowl that comes in a set, but I'm not all in on it.

While you can't go far wrong with one of those, there are better ones on the market. My suggestion is that perhaps you buy yourself a nice one in a style that pleases you. That'll do for a good souvenir of your trip, and it will be useful. Then when you're home do a little research into the higher-end ulu makers, and perhaps pick up another one that really trips your trigger.

The Knives of Alaska Magnum Ulu is a nice looking belt knife, but not a lot of blade on it. I am still mad that I didn't see the Benchmade "Nestucca" when it was still in production -- a cross between a cleaver and an ulu.

Gitcherself an ulu and a mocotaugan and you'll be all set up!

O.H.

 

[Ad Astra]

Hope it worked out, just saw this. I did get a nice bone-handled, saw-blade ulu on a sidestreet in ... Talkeetna? Anyways. They were locally made and beautiful. I wanted to make a wallet-style sheath for it, but haven't yet ...


AA

 

[Whisky]

I picked up 3 knives. A small skinner, an Ulu, and a new brisket slicer. I’ll post pics when I get back home.

 

[Old Hippie]

With respect to uluit as being a part of Inuit culture, and what happens in the marketplace...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuit-react-to-totchop-ulu-inspired-1.7265753

Interesting debate.

O.H.

 

[Whisky]

With respect to uluit as being a part of Inuit culture, and what happens in the marketplace...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuit-react-to-totchop-ulu-inspired-1.7265753

Interesting debate.

O.H.

It kind of surprised me that there’s a a company called “the ulu factory” that churns out stamped steel blanks that they then sell to what seemed like everybody in Alaska to produce “traditional” ulus. They also market their own set, an ulu with a scalloped cutting board like the one mentioned above. It’s possible the ulu factory is indigenous owned, but I don’t know. The ulu I purchased is made from a repurposed saw blade. It’s not perfectly symmetrical, but it fits my hand really well. I really want to try using it to skin out a deer.

 

[Old Hippie]

The ulu I purchased is made from a repurposed saw blade. It’s not perfectly symmetrical, but it fits my hand really well. I really want to try using it to skin out a deer.

Cool! Sounds like a beauty. I hope you enjoy it. Also unmatched for chiffonading greens and herbs in the kitchen.

O.H.