The Alaskan ulu knife is more than just a knife; it’s a way of life. Here’s our guide to buying and using this traditional knife used by some of Alaska's indigenous people.

A knife is a knife, but an Alaskan Ulu knife is something extraordinary.

Although the Ulu knife’s history is long and embedded in Inuit culture, its uses in the modern kitchen are diverse.

The Alaskan Ulu knife, a wide-arced or curved blade knife, is sometimes called an "ooloo” knife, an Inuit knife, or, more generally, an Eskimo Ulu knife because Alaskan native people have used the device for centuries. 

History of the Ulu Knife

The Ulu has a history in Alaskan native Inuit culture going back 3,500 to 5,000 years. It's an Inuit tool that has been vital to Alaska’s Western Arctic Inuit people's tradition.

Although the Ulu knife has crept into the mainstream market with availability at many retailers, its role in Inuit culture remains just as vital as it was when it was invented thousands of years ago.

Ulu is the short form of uuluuraq, an Inuit word for a woman's knife. Inuit women and other native Alaskans have traditionally used it to cut meat or separate skins for clothing. It is still used as a kitchen knife for food preparation, but it has long been recognized as a versatile kitchen tool for chefs and cooks around the entire world.

The Ulu knife’s thin, crescent-shaped blade is usually steel attached to a wooden handle with a stainless-steel blade. But historically, the Ulu knife blade has been composed of everything from slate, shale, or quartzite, with bone, walrus ivory, or wood handles. 

Some Inuits glued blade to handle with an amalgam of clay, dog hair, and seal blood. Others used rawhide, whalebone, and pine root to sew the blade to the handle.

That’s a great history lesson, but how does all that fit in with modern Epicurean needs?

Using an Ulu Knife 

Even if you are not an experienced cook, Ulu blades are uber-utilitarian. Their design allows for a rocking motion that makes it a very efficient knife that can be used to do everything from mincing vegetables to cutting pizza. More experienced chefs can use it for cutting meat, chopping nuts, and dicing vegetables, among other kitchen tasks. 

The Inuit, of course, also use this all-purpose knife to skin animals, which may not be necessary for most households, and to even cut hair. Such is the Ulu knife’s versatility. 

How and Where to Buy an Ulu Knife 

Buying an Ulu knife is surprisingly easy. Multiple types are available here on the Voyij website. 

When purchasing an Ulu knife, you must decide if you want versatility, durability, size of the blade, or the best price.

And best of all, you don’t have to barter a seal skin to get a good one. 

As an Alaska gift marketplace, Voyij carries various types of Ulu knives from multiple vendors from across the state. 

The Ulu Factory sells many unique designs such as an Alaskan birch wooden handle Ulu knife complete with a large wooden chopping bowl. If you are a chef or enjoy preparing good meals, this Ulu is the perfect gift. Even better, combine it with a cutting board.  

Suppose you are looking for ideas on how to use an ulu in your kitchen. In that case, Tongas Trading Company sells an affordable Ulu bundled with a colorful cookbook with popular recipes and tips on how to get the most out of Ulu’s unique chopping and cutting capabilities.  

How to Clean an Ulu Knife

No matter which Ulu you buy, it is recommended that the knife never be placed in a dishwasher. When handwashing, use warm water, be aware that the ulu knife has an extremely sharp edge, and apply mineral oil or vegetable oil to the handle to ensure a longer life. 

Sharpening the Ulu Knife  

Needless to say, all knives need sharpening, and the Ulu knife is no different. Knife Planet says that an Ulu knife can be sharpened in 10 minutes using a sharpening stone and, of course, your dull knife.

The Ulu knife has only one beveled edge, and only that edge should be sharpened. You can use a wet stone or 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper to sharpen the edge. Apply light pressure and rotate the blade along the sharpening surface. Once fully sharpened, the beveled edge should look polished.

If a burr appears on the non-beveled edge, use the sharpening surface or a leather strap to remove it gently. Use light pressure only. 

Voyij Alaska offers tours and history, a keepsake shop where you can grab Alaska artifacts, and, of course, an Ulu knife.