Ulu

The Ulu (plural: Uluit ), also Ulo, is a knife that is traditionally used by the women of the Inuit. The basic shape is a thin blade with a semi-circular cutting edge and a handle centrally on the opposite side. It is for skinning and slicing of hunting, filleting fish and used for preparation and grinding of food.

The original blades were lack of other materials in the Arctic from slate, quartzite, jade or other suitable stone with handles made of animal bones, ivory or horn. In Western Canada, for example, in Ulukhaktok in the Northwest Territories, even blades made of native copper were produced. Since the 19th century, steel became available for the Inuit and other materials displaced almost completely. Here, regional variations were out. Uluit today are industrially produced from stainless steel.