Any item created on the most northern lands by local aborigines, has a great functionality. This is not Africa, where you can knock bananas with a stick with a palm tree! There are no sticks here, but I keep silence about palm trees! So it was necessary for different Chukchi and Eskimo people there to take a very responsible approach to the production of household items. Today you will learn about one of the most ancient knives in the world - the Eskimo ulu. By the way, this particular blade turned out to be even older than the Yakut.
General information about knife ulu
The traditional Eskimo knife immediately attracts attention with one of its name. Ulu - it sounds very beautiful, somehow melodious, or something. For thousands of years, this unusual blade played a huge role in the life of the Eskimos. If it were not for him, it would be even more difficult to survive in such conditions. The Eskimos have done and are still doing many works with the ulu knife:
Skinned walrus and seals;
These same skins are cut into pieces;
Sew clothes;
Prepare materials for the construction of their homes and boats;
Prepare food and make many more different household operations.
Initially, all the ulu knives were stone. Since the flint in this area was strained, they were made from slate. When whaling ships began to sail to the settlements of the Eskimos, they often supplied the local people with metal knives, axes, and so on, in exchange for furs and walrus tusks. The Eskimos quickly appreciated the benefits of steel, and began to make their ulu from iron. This led to the fact that the knives have become sharper, stronger and more functional.
This is not a brass knuckles or a Chinese battle ax - this is an ulu knife
Currently, ulu knives are produced in Canadian factories in Chukotka and in several other countries. Such swords have gained immense popularity in the kitchens. They are used by professional chefs and many housewives around the world. That's just in Russia, this knife is almost unknown. At least I have never seen him in the kitchen. And it’s in vain, a real ulu is a great kitchen knife, despite its exotic shape.
Why exactly ulu?
Why is it considered that the knife ulu surpasses all known kitchen knives in cut quality? This is not a matter of some secret steel or sharpening, just the center of application of force during cutting is located directly above the blade. It turns out that even a weak housewife will be able to quickly cut large fish apart, but there’s nothing to say about meat. It is quickly and easily cut into small pieces, despite the presence of veins and cartilage. The load on the wrist when cutting is almost not felt.
An interesting model of Ulu from the American company Fox Knives
When cutting products, the products are pressed against the board and the blade does not pull them behind them, which often happens when cutting with ordinary kitchen knives. Although the Eskimo menu had practically no fruits and vegetables, the knife to the ulu perfectly cuts them. It is perfect for chopping greens, only the board is desirable to use a special one with a notch. This is a double-sided board, on the one hand it is smooth, and on the other with a notch in the middle.
It turns out that in Finland they are well aware of the knives of the Eskimo ulu. This blade is made by the famous company Roselli.
Here are just ulu bread cut knives uncomfortable, and indeed, they must first get used to. But then you will not have any problems when cutting large fish. The same salmon must be cooked as the Eskimos do. First, the fish must be gutted, then cut off its head, and then flatten into two halves along the entire length of the ridge.
How did the Eskimos make their ulu in antiquity?
Since each Eskimo should have had a knife, they made their traditional ulu themselves. This is proved by the fact that the Eskimos always find a knife of this type in the ancient graves. The shape of the knife was different, as the female and male ulu were significantly different from each other. Female models were intended exclusively for household and household activities, while male models could be used in clashes between various Aboriginal tribes. Although Eskimos often used spears and bows with arrows for military operations.
Stone knives, as I said, were usually made of slate. For this it was necessary to find a suitable stone, without cracks and chips. Then the blank was given the desired shape with a narrow file of hard stone. To speed up the process, sand mixed with water was poured between the file and the workpiece. Such cutting is called abrasive sawing. The finished stone knife could only be sanded and ground. To do this, use flat grinding stones.
There is an opinion that the process of manufacturing stone tools is associated with huge labor costs. For example, the grandfather began to make the knife, and the grandson finished. At such a speed, all primitive people would have already become extinct long ago, since stone hunting tools do not differ in strength, and they constantly broke down during a hunt. In fact, an experienced master.