GrammaRama Posted March 19, 2018 #26 Share Posted March 19, 2018 [ATTACH]416951[/ATTACH] This is an ULU knife. It is a traditional Alaskan knife. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Thanks for the visual. I can see where the shape of this knife would be useful in all sorts of situations throughout the kitchen. Now that I know what it looks like I will be on the lookout when in Alaska in August. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tea4ular Posted March 19, 2018 #27 Share Posted March 19, 2018 We found the most authentic art and crafts in Ketchikan - it was a breath of fresh air compared to the other ports (for us). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowmeboy Posted March 19, 2018 #28 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Thanks for the visual. I can see where the shape of this knife would be useful in all sorts of situations throughout the kitchen. Now that I know what it looks like I will be on the lookout when in Alaska in August. No problem! I am a visual person as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate45 Posted March 19, 2018 #29 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Okay, so I'll ask. What is a ULU knife? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebbbhoney Posted March 19, 2018 #30 Share Posted March 19, 2018 We found the most authentic art and crafts in Ketchikan - it was a breath of fresh air compared to the other ports (for us). I'm interested to know, where did you shop at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytime53 Posted March 19, 2018 #31 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Okay, so I'll ask. What is a ULU knife? See the 5th post above yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliethecruiser Posted March 19, 2018 #32 Share Posted March 19, 2018 If you are going to be in Anchorage on Saturday, check out their outside market downtown. We bought most of our souvenirs there before even sailing on our cruise. They were from local artists and craftsman and the prices were great. We also went to Alaska Wild Berry Products in Anchorage and picked up a few things there. I second the outside market in Anchorage. They not only have some great souvenirs but the food is good too. I had some delicious fish and chips (halibut) on one of my trips. Just as good as the fish and chips I paid double for in a restaurant in Seward! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaitip Posted March 20, 2018 #33 Share Posted March 20, 2018 There was a shop right next to Berth 1 in Ketchikan that was full of Christmas related items. We had fun looking through it. Excuse me, where is Birth 1? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytime53 Posted March 20, 2018 #34 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Excuse me, where is Berth 1?Sent from my iPad using Forums If you look at the map on this page, the berths are numbered right to left, so look for the ship that is furthest to the left. That is berth 1. http://cruiseportwiki.com/Ketchikan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tea4ular Posted March 20, 2018 #35 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I'm interested to know, where did you shop at? I don't recall the street names but we walked into town and down some side streets. There were a few little authentic shops with beautiful items. The art was beautiful there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawk1972 Posted March 20, 2018 #36 Share Posted March 20, 2018 [ATTACH]416951[/ATTACH] This is an ULU knife. It is a traditional Alaskan knife. Sent from my iPhone using Forums I bought an Ulu knife in 1983 when I was in Alaska, and we still use it! May be time to get a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrammaRama Posted March 20, 2018 #37 Share Posted March 20, 2018 [ATTACH]416951[/ATTACH] This is an ULU knife. It is a traditional Alaskan knife. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Does anyone know what ULU stands for? Just curious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2griff Posted March 20, 2018 #38 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Okay, so I'll ask. What is a ULU knife? See post #24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted March 20, 2018 #39 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Does anyone know what ULU stands for? Just curious It doesn't stand for anything and shouldn't be in all caps - but the biggest local maker capitalizes their name (The ULU Factory) so many folks now seem to think it should be a contraction, U.L.U., standing for something: Un-named Lopping Utensil perhaps;-) It actually translates to something like "Woman's knife" in English from Inuktituk and Inuvialuktun as it would be used for 'in home' tasks like hide scraping and general cutting rather than hunting or fighting. Other arctic first nations have different names for the same thing - and there are several different styles, breadth of blades, tightness of curvature etc. which are optimised for different tasks but all share a curved blade with a parallel handle above. Used with a curved cutting board (buy a boxed set) they are very effective for fine chopping/mincing - all the double-bladed 'rocking herb knives' you see around were obviously ripped off from the concept - but for most folks it'll probably end up on a shelf as a conversation piece barring a real effort to learn how to maximise the utility of the shape. That said, if you lack strength/have arthritis you may find a knife in this style involves less strain to use than a traditional 'blade sticks out from the end of the handle' knife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsjcb2000 Posted March 20, 2018 #40 Share Posted March 20, 2018 It doesn't stand for anything and shouldn't be in all caps - but the biggest local maker capitalizes their name (The ULU Factory) so many folks now seem to think it should be a contraction, U.L.U., standing for something: Un-named Lopping Utensil perhaps;-) It actually translates to something like "Woman's knife" in English from Inuktituk and Inuvialuktun as it would be used for 'in home' tasks like hide scraping and general cutting rather than hunting or fighting. Other arctic first nations have different names for the same thing - and there are several different styles, breadth of blades, tightness of curvature etc. which are optimised for different tasks but all share a curved blade with a parallel handle above. Used with a curved cutting board (buy a boxed set) they are very effective for fine chopping/mincing - all the double-bladed 'rocking herb knives' you see around were obviously ripped off from the concept - but for most folks it'll probably end up on a shelf as a conversation piece barring a real effort to learn how to maximise the utility of the shape. That said, if you lack strength/have arthritis you may find a knife in this style involves less strain to use than a traditional 'blade sticks out from the end of the handle' knife. Thank you for this info -- I love learning the back story. I got excited when everyone started talking about the knives, and then when I saw the picture, I was like, WOW that's crazy - will definitely have to make it it makes it into the checked bag for the flight home! Knowing the backstory, makes me that much more interested in looking for one. I know prices will vary, but what does these typically average? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted March 20, 2018 #41 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Thank you for this info -- I love learning the back story. I got excited when everyone started talking about the knives, and then when I saw the picture, I was like, WOW that's crazy - will definitely have to make it it makes it into the checked bag for the flight home! Knowing the backstory, makes me that much more interested in looking for one. I know prices will vary, but what does these typically average? Prices vary wildly - there are imports as well as locally-made, and of course many stores add a tourist markup. Frankly for these items, unless you're shopping for a high end one for purely aesthetic reason and need to see the exact one you're going to buy, you're better off buying through Amazon! Almost certainly cheaper than the best pricing you'l find in port, no need to worry about them being confiscated as you reboard the ship (they'll be handed back at end of the cruise), no finding space for a chunky and heavy box in your luggage (the boxed sets with chopping boards get heavy), no need to worry about looking for Made in Alaska logos to ensure you don't get an import, and no need to waste time shopping that could be spent sightseeing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrammaRama Posted March 20, 2018 #42 Share Posted March 20, 2018 It doesn't stand for anything and shouldn't be in all caps - but the biggest local maker capitalizes their name (The ULU Factory) so many folks now seem to think it should be a contraction, U.L.U., standing for something: Un-named Lopping Utensil perhaps;-) It actually translates to something like "Woman's knife" in English from Inuktituk and Inuvialuktun as it would be used for 'in home' tasks like hide scraping and general cutting rather than hunting or fighting. Other arctic first nations have different names for the same thing - and there are several different styles, breadth of blades, tightness of curvature etc. which are optimised for different tasks but all share a curved blade with a parallel handle above. Used with a curved cutting board (buy a boxed set) they are very effective for fine chopping/mincing - all the double-bladed 'rocking herb knives' you see around were obviously ripped off from the concept - but for most folks it'll probably end up on a shelf as a conversation piece barring a real effort to learn how to maximise the utility of the shape. That said, if you lack strength/have arthritis you may find a knife in this style involves less strain to use than a traditional 'blade sticks out from the end of the handle' knife. Thank you for the background information on the knife. That info will make it a very much appreciated souvenir with a pratical purpose to boot. I appreciate knowing that there is a curved cutting board that you can possibly buy as a gift set. This might be one souvenir that doesn't end up collecting dust on the back shelf. Thanks for the info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esm2437 Posted April 29, 2018 #43 Share Posted April 29, 2018 Thanks for starting this thread, I took some great notes. I'm also in the market for some good photos of Alaska and the wildlife. Can anyone recommend a photographer or studio in Ketchikan, Juneau or Skagway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted April 29, 2018 #44 Share Posted April 29, 2018 I'm also in the group of people who hate buying souvenirs made in China. I've found the best place to get actual made in Alaska souvenirs is at the Native Hospital in Anchorage. They have a gift shop and it's where I do most my shopping for people who want things from the 49th state. +1 on that. They also have some wonderful native crafts displayed in cabinets on the stairs of the hospital. Go there even if you do not plan to buy anything. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted April 29, 2018 #45 Share Posted April 29, 2018 Okay, so I'll ask. What is a ULU knife? Look it up on Wikipedia. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoriPhil Posted April 29, 2018 #46 Share Posted April 29, 2018 We seek locally-produced greeting cards and frame them nicely when we get home. Easy to transport, and we can imagine the work and focus that went into the composition by the artist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parentsof5 Posted April 30, 2018 #47 Share Posted April 30, 2018 We seek locally-produced greeting cards and frame them nicely when we get home. Easy to transport, and we can imagine the work and focus that went into the composition by the artist. Love this idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emory2001 Posted May 2, 2018 #48 Share Posted May 2, 2018 This is a great thread! Keep it coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted May 2, 2018 #49 Share Posted May 2, 2018 My favorite store was in Ketchikan on Creek Street: Fish Creek Company. It's a nicer store but they had some interesting things. My favorite item, I bought there. It's a puzzle made from thin plywood and the pieces are not like regular jigsaw puzzles - each piece is in the shape of things like a bear, eagle, cougar, man with rifle, etc. They had several different puzzles to pick from. I chose a bear puzzle. There aren't any straight edge pieces so it's kind of difficult starting out - I think it took me about 3 months of working on it off & on to finish. They are a little expensive (around $100) but it's unique. Here's an example: Front Back: (you can see the puzzle piece shapes) Talk about difficult puzzles. I once had a puzzle called "Little Red Robin Hood's Hood". It was round and solid red - no art work at all. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/springbok-500-pc-little-red-riding-472786140 Took us a long while to get it done. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandallFlagg Posted May 10, 2018 #50 Share Posted May 10, 2018 For the record - you CAN buy Ulu knives on Ebay and Amazon - yes, from Alaska. Matter of fact the ulu factory sells directly on Amazon. I don't know what the prices are in Alaska proper - but on Amazon, 35-45 dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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