How To Make an Ulu Knife

Here is a complete How-To documentary on how to make an Ulu Knife.

[@robertlaster3228]

Hello Dave ! I have been working as a machinist & toolmaker for about 35 years of employment. Received an apprenticeship from GM-Fisher Body back in 1989, so have been a journeyman Tool & Diemaker since graduating. I have a suggestion for cutting the steel by using your idea with the vise. By clamping the blades between 2 pieces of steel with the edges of the plates lined up with your cut line and then clamp them either in your vise or with some heavy c-clamps. These plates will need to have the 2 edges fairly sharp or machined to give you the flat edge break you want. By you "sandwiching" the blades between this way you clamp all the way across and give you more room to work. This worked for me as well using radiused edges to bend sheet metal to do a quick part for due repairs while running service on the stamping dies I currently work on when the presses stop and need my attention.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks Robert. I appreciate the insight

[@istinklikebutt45]

Robert Laste

[@daddynipplecorn]

Niceeeeee

[@saskrockhoundoutdoors9865]

After your ulu marathon this spring I didn't think that you would ever make another one ! Your resilience is admirable

[@Bushradical]

oh man.......i still have nightmares about this spring....I tried to make 60 in a few weeks ...so I had days when I was at it 14 hours....this fall I'm taking my time.

[@ronhart8857]

Beautiful job explaining how to make a Ulu knife! The batch on the table of finished Ulu's look great. Thank you Dave

[@Bushradical]

thanks Ron

[@TheOpenLens]

Nice thorough video. :) In Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, and elsewhere, uluit were not just made from old saw blades but from all kinds of metal that came from trade: spades, shovels, iron, etc. Even thin iron from old shipwrecks were used. Handsaws are now favored, but that's a relatively recent trend.

[@diannaharrison5931]

Know what? I think I can even do this after watching the process. You are a great teacher, Dave!

[@mickymurray3574]

The best tutorial I’ve ever seen. Thanks. By the way, nice music. It reflects your personality.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@RustyGunn7]

Ulu knives are traditionally chisel ground on the edge. The reason a chisel grind is used is that it makes the blade cut away from the fingers of the off-hand holding the animal being cut up, ie skinning a seal. The handle is also off-set in such that fingers get more handle than the thumb side.

[@arctichare8185]

It is redundant to write "ulu knife". It is an ulu.

[@Wooley689]

Having a great time watching this and the scenery and music is frosting on the cake.

[@richardjones2129]

Nice! Great workmanship! I appreciate watching u build cabins n now making ulu's. Keep the good videos coming and God Bless!

[@gmorenocampana]

Hello my friend, greetings from Ecuador, your work is Amazing, Im working in create ULUS, my friends are very happy with the results, you have now a new fan,

[@joseffroula7415]

Excellent tutorial. I appreciate the way you explain each step along the way. Thank you!

[@joycebarnett5813]

Great video!!!!!! I really like the way they turned out. The handles are really pretty. Very nice touch. You did a super job. Thanks for sharing

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@jormond7266]

Enjoy watching your stuff. You always explain clearly and simply. Thank you.

[@shadowcastre]

Excellent tutorial..! You made it super easy to understand the steps, tools needed, techniques involved. Audio - visual learner here.. :-) I appreciate the fact that you took the time to point out that you shouldn't ruin a perfectly good functional old tool and to use those that have lost their usefulness. I love old tools and I absolutely hate it when I see people destroy tools that still have plenty of life in them. Thanks for the video....

[@Bushradical]

Thanks! Glad you like the video

[@juwright1949]

Absolutely outstanding! I really like how you use common tools that most “nonprofessionals” have access to or already own. I truly enjoy all of your vids. Thank you so much. 👍🏻

[@Bushradical]

Thanks James, I appreciate the comment.

[@73FORGE]

What an awesome process! A lot of work! But very cool to see how they’re made! I absolutely love mine, thanks Dave👍🏼🍺

[@Bushradical]

Thanks Steve. When you make 60 of these things it feels like you've been stuck in a factory.

[@chaplainand1]

Thank you. I appreciate this entire video. I have an ulu that i purchased in Alaska as a wedding gift for my wife in 1977. It has an antler handle with two brass pins. We still used it. It was made from a circular saw blade. Who know where it was actually made. It has held up well. Keep it out of the water. Wash and wipe the blade, put it away. We wash all our knives by hand. When I use them, I wash and dry the blade immediately, even the SS ones. I don't like the idea of a sharp knife in a sink full of dish water. Just saying. Blessings to you and yours. Those are keepsake blades for sure.

[@bevtrue6937]

Gorgeous!! Thanks for this VERY interesting tutorial.

[@Bushradical]

You are so welcome!

[@danielfreeman649]

These are beautiful. Cool to see how these are made. It helps me to visualize the process before I make something, and I'm glad you went slowly and methodically and explained the safety stuff

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@miikesternberg6947]

I love your work bench. Great idea!

[@Bushradical]

Its solid and stable as all get out. I did a video on it.....you'd have to dig through my vids to find it but its there.

[@patcoombs2163]

Congratulations on starting your new adventure. You have so many God-given talents. My husband was the same way.

[@almollitor]

Dave is a very good teacher!

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@chuckcarpenter6858]

Thank you for your knowledge about old saws. It's to late to save the saw that my dad gave me as my son got rid of it with many of my tools at a garage sale. He thinks he is the alpha male in our relationship & his tools that I gave him are better than mine. I saved the chisel that my dad gave me & I will give it to my grandson to keep it in the family. One thing my dad passed on to me is to have a file for wood & the old file for metal but don't use the metal file on wood again. He was a Industrial Arts teacher for many years. I became an IA, Vocational Auto, Vocational Construction, Vocational Appliance as well as a Special Ed teacher. I still like to learn things as well as teach what I know. You 2 married people are good teachers without having the paper certificate to teach. Some of us are gifted to pass on our knowledge to those people that wan't to learn.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks Chuck

[@runningriverbushcraft7548]

Truly enjoy all of your videos excellent Workmanship 👍always enjoy your Wife’s channel also keep up the good work.!! 👏👏👏🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@scottt8424]

Hey there Dave thank you for the video and thank you for showing us on KZbin how to make this one day I'm going to make one or more myself now I know how thanks to you

[@Bushradical]

You bet!

[@anitahagler6586]

Man I want to make one. Awesome job. Love you and Brooke. You guys rock! God bless!

[@Bushradical]

Thank you Anita!

[@franksmith1687]

Very Cool, thanks for the winter project idea!

[@Bushradical]

right on

[@fumastertoo]

Those look awesome, great job!

[@alstacey6767]

You’re the man Dave, that was awesome, thank you man. I’m gonna try my hand at making a few this weekend. 👍

[@redcolley6486]

Great job, I truly enjoyed watching this

[@chrislonsberry4571]

Great video Dave. Thanks for all the info. I’ve always wanted an Ulu and now I can make one. On a quest for an old saw. Thanks again!

[@Bushradical]

Good luck Chris.

[@nosaltiesandrooshere7488]

👍 Danke fürs Hochladen! 👍 Thanks for uploading!

[@williampysell2819]

Good video and instructions for making an ulu knife, Dave!

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@michaelkoon8371]

Dav love the way your working on the ulo very nice

[@karnage1989ck]

Finding this channel today...feeling like a caveman that just discovered fire. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks CG I appreciate that!

cave men would have used slate or flint!

[@gregoryfranklin5108]

I just watched Brook talking about her favorite knives . The ULU you made for her was number one . I like them too but never thought about making one myself . Thanks for teaching me how ! (PS: I love your wife 😍 She is a hoot and smart and beautiful etc etc etc . ) You are the sure winner there brother !❤

[@keithharoldsen1141]

Thank you so much. I am going to try making one. You explain everything so well. You are so very talented in so many different ways.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks so much 😊

[@DavidBrown-sh3so]

Hello Dave, Great video. Thanks for sharing !

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@careyhaner]

You could use 2 pieces of angle iron to extend your vice jaws. You & your wife are amazing people. I pray for you. GOD BLESS.

[@colinsmith7576]

Nice job, very interesting and relaxing to watch and understand the whole process.

[@Bushradical]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@barneygo2010]

Warmest thanks for the inspiration! Peace Be The Journey!

[@Dondon6x7]

I am waiting for you to say "Ok, the Ulu Knives are now available in my store!"

[@Bushradical]

I don't currently have any Ulus available .....but I will be making some this fall.....I'm "in process".

[@frd1fuf]

whats the website for your store

[@josephlathrop1914]

@@Bushradical I Cant see why i would make these out of an antique saw and not use a circular saw blade

[@TheOpenLens]

@@josephlathrop1914 Circular saw blades are too thick

[@josephlathrop1914]

@@TheOpenLens depends on the blade. I have both in my garage ☺️

[@0067rick]

Hi Dave you know if you use a dremel with a cutting disk just to score the lines slightly, dont cut them out with it just touch lift off you wont generate enough heat to hurt anything and then do exactly what you were doing you will get some clean breaks I've done it,,great video Rick from Owosso M.I.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks Rick. Ive never used a dremel cut-off wheel for anything but they always look interesting when I see them in vids. I use a hand held grinder with a wheel on a daily basis, but that would be way too hot for this.

[@brickwyrm5439]

love that your workbench is a treestump.

[@zRockin1]

Hi Dave, great video bud, love your attention to detail! I'd also like to add that the guitar work was awesome too, Rock On!!!

[@Bushradical]

Thanks Z . Don't listen to close...the guitar is full of mistakes.

[@davestelling]

Evening, Dave... You've given us a marvelous tutorial, here. Many thanks. I'm wondering if perhaps scoring might help w/ a cleaner break? The splitting wedge is a great idea. I too, like utilizing & improving whatever I might have on hand for just the right tool.

[@Bushradical]

If you had a dremel with the little tiny cute off wheel, it would probably work well. The splitting wedge works great.

[@michaelfunk5951]

They’re definitely good skinners.I’d like to have one. I’ve used a hatchet edge and loved the way it worked with the curved face. Much better than with a knife. I see it’s benefits.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@Sledge308]

Thanks Dave. Think I’ll try my hand at making an ULU KNIFE from an old handsaw someday.

[@chevybill1833]

Nice job! They all look great! Looks like you are on your way to knife making.

[@Bushradical]

LOL, these are more like an arts and crafts project, but they are a handy tool.

[@svravenflintlock7526]

This IS my next project. Thanks!

[@barrybechler6880]

Saved! I still want to purchase one of your creations. Keep. Me posted. 👍🏻

[@Bushradical]

Will do!

[@CampfireKodiak]

I'm going to keep my eye open for an old saw blade so I can try this. Thanks for the idea.

[@BBQDad463]

Thanks for an excellent video. Short, sweet, right to the point. (Some might say 45 minutes is not "short," but you wasted no time. It was no longer than necessary.) Your ulu knives look like a very practical use of simple materials. You did the job with a relatively common set of tools. Again, thanks for a nice video. One thought: I would have wanted to remove all of the rust---but that's just me. 🙂

[@Bushradical]

I try to get most all of it. Thanks

[@fp3359]

Hello Dave, My compliments; top notch instructive video. Greetz from Holland.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks FP!!

[@davegoodridge8352]

This real craftsmanship

[@eddiekeylon323]

Very much enjoyed the video Dave!!! Didn't know you could break a saw blade that way...

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@Mrgoodguy865]

Awesome job, a little trick for the epoxy to go on a bit smoother you can add a few drops of alcohol in the mix will dilute so you work with it easier

[@SpamMusubi308]

Good deal I learned alot I have a few circular saw blades destined for scrap now I'll try making an ulu and maybe the broken off shard could be a striker for a ferro rod thanks Dave.

[@Bushradical]

I have no idea if a circular saw blade will work ...but its worth a try

[@donaldhofman296]

Spam Musubi they aren't tempered all the way like the old hand saws are!

[@patrickd8775]

May I recommend deeply scoring the metal along those long lines first? Similar to breaking or cutting plexiglass, stone etc.

[@johnmadden6656]

As a guy who's bought old saws for using as saws, I was cringing a little at the beginning until you told everyone not to destroy a good saw. Also had no idea they were that brittle. Now I know what to do with some junkers...Thanks!

[@Bushradical]

I sharpen and re-furbish old saws too. I wouldn't mess up a good one...I wouldn't want that on my conscious. they are great old tools

[@preacherb2816]

I have one of your ulu. I bought a work sharp to keep a edge on ulu. Love the knife, use it all the time

[@Bushradical]

Fantastic! Its always good to hear someone loves their ULU!!!

[@wayneandrews1933]

Great job my friend keep it up Bless on your family

[@Bushradical]

thanks.

[@xavierathorne]

Thank you. Learned a new skill. Much appreciated!

[@Bushradical]

your welcome

[@skippyjones2077]

Hey what’s going on Dave Thank you for sharing your videos great job 👍❤️☮️🙏✌️

[@cillaloves2fish688]

That was cool! I had just bought an ulu a few months before u started making them. So I couldn't see myself buying another just yet, otherwise I wudda bought one of urs! I picked up an old rusty saw at a thrift store, no idea how old it is. I'll probably give it away to a friend that wanted to make an ulu, I don't trust myself... I might lose a finger! Great video... Never would have thot to break steel like that!

[@Bushradical]

Hey C2F! Breaking the steel is the easy part of the process. Its kind of fun too.

[@gosmoothgolight6285]

Hey, Dave ... all the best with tonight's eBay sale of your Ulus! Just watched you make mine (well ... at least, the process you used :) Thanks for sharing ... really enjoyed watching! Oh, and BTW ... we always had Wheel Horse tractors when I was growing up. Nice to see yours is still in service! Later, my friend ... God Bless

[@Bushradical]

Hey Brother! I have 3 wheel horse tractors. Right now one is in the woods hooked to the log splitter, the other is hooked to the wood trailer. .........the other one is in parts under the apple tree

[@longrider42]

I have the Norse Hawk, from Cold Steel, when the head is removed from the handle. You basically have an Ulu knife. A nice tool, and one I will have to actually add to my collection.

[@mem7048]

Dave, for the final removal of the wire edge I have found that a leather strop epoxied to a plank and drawing the ulu blade back towards you is more effective at removing the wire edge, then finish the honing on the gray cardboard from the back of a stenographer's tablet.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks for the info. I do have a strop, but I would have to get a stenographers tablet.

[@grizzly22485]

I assume this was filmed before th barn bit the big one... Great video with a ton of info. Love it. Miss the cabin in the big state but love thw how-to stuff.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks.

[@parttimewoodcrafter307]

Thanks for the great video Dave, I'm going to try this soon. I really enjoy your down to earth approach to things. Breaking out a knife with a hammer looks like my kind of project. Ha.

[@Bushradical]

Right on! Anytime the main tool is a hammer....its bound to be fun.

[@georgeclair1609]

You can score the lines with a cold chisel before breaking the big pieces .It might help .

[@Bushradical]

I have used a chisel a lot more since I shot this vid, and now I use a splitting wedge.

[@rod.thehollerhound9791]

Nice job! Would like to try makin one for myself. Thank for sharin this.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks. Let me know how it turns out

[@RayBlackburn]

I thought you already had a video showing how you made them but this one had much more of the details in it making it even better They look like really nice knives

[@Bushradical]

This video was made last year and it was on my website

[@RayBlackburn]

@@Bushradical That is funny as I just remembered a video just like it but maybe this one seemed more detailed after watching it again LOL

[@Bushradical]

Did you pay to see the video from the website? If you did I'll give you $13 off an Ulu purchase.

[@RayBlackburn]

@@Bushradical No I just remembered seeing it some place I was thinking about making one and trying it for skinning but was going to try to make one from a circular saw blade

[@MrRutabager]

Really like your video. Very intuitive. Got some old crosscut saw blades I've been saving for knives; will definitely try an ulu. Have a question: Do you think scoring your break line with an awl or even very lightly with a grinder with a cutting blade would be advantages and make the break smoother? Thanks for sharing

[@Bushradical]

The steel usually breaks pretty good jus using the vise, I haven't tried other ways. I do have another video thats a more up-to -date version of how I bust out blanks....check that one out. I use a splitting wedge and a sledgehammer.

[@davestelling]

Oops... Guess u wasn't paying attention re: "Scoring!"

[@gosmoothgolight7567]

"I don't wear gloves for anything ... which is my own 'stupidity'." LOL! I've got way worse, in that Department! Love my "B.R." Ulu, sir ... see you down the road :) God Bless you and yours

[@DOMINYPAUL]

Thanks for the lesson, think I'll made a few.

[@Bushradical]

Let me know how they turn out

[@Tinkering902]

If you used a 1" slab you can cut a slot in it the thickness of the blade, if you use a handsaw you can make the slot pretty close to the thickness of the blade

[@ajtaylor560]

Old hockey stick handles should make a good handle as well. The walnut is gorgeous.

[@Bushradical]

What do they make hockey sticks out of?

[@ajtaylor560]

@@Bushradical They can have an aspen core with birch laminates. Very tough. Cheap too. They use them up north, my buddy gave me a ulu with a hockey stick handle. Love it.

[@12ernie]

Great video! Gonna make a couple,i'll let you know how they turn out! Ernie

[@Bushradical]

right on

[@adamslater4592]

I’ll send you pics when I done bud. Thanks a million. I’ll never forget it.

[@Bushradical]

You bet! Cant wait to see how it turns out

[@susanstoltz2555]

I’m so glad I got my Ulu before you got sick of making them in the Ulu factory! Love mine and use it for everything. Nice to see how they’re made...great video. Mine is nowhere near needing to be sharpened but would you suggest I use a leather strop?

[@Bushradical]

Thanks Susan, I generally use a stone.

[@markreynolds3850]

Interesting video , thanks for sharing.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@lackofdubs5975]

You could score it with a grinder or rotary tool without the temler being affected and finish it off with snapping it. It will snap cleaner as it will break at the weakest point, which will be the scored area. Also, a chunk of squared metal pressed against the material, then hit the chunk of metal would make the strike more evenly spread and would give cleaner breaks.

[@georgeshaw8276]

Hey Dave, great video my friend. One thing you can do to keep yourself from getting maimed from the filing process besides the gloves is to add a tab of leather to your file tang before you put the handle on. A piece of good plastic works as well, like that of a 55 gal drum. I can't tell you how many times it has saved my fingers and palm from being shredded from an ax blade or scythe blade sharpening.

[@georgeshaw8276]

Forgot to add: I now have an old saw blade that the handle was destroyed on and I think I will make some of these myself. I'm going to try and cut the steel though on my band saw with a metal cutting blade. Should work without harming the temper. If not, I'll break the darn thing.

[@Bushradical]

Thanks George. I actually do have a file with a leather guard.....but I didn't have it handy when I filmed this.

[@Bushradical]

..............I can't comment on that. I guess it all depends on if the band saw has tougher steel than the handsaw. I know I can rarely get a drill bit to drill a saw blade.

[@georgeshaw8276]

@@Bushradical Coincidence? Not 20 seconds after I made the bandsaw comment, your new bandsaw video popped into my list of recommended videos.. Gotta laugh.

[@Bushradical]

Coincidence....?

[@emochinchilla]

Nice job!

[@genefoster9770]

thanks for the video see you on the next one

[@Bushradical]

Thanks for watching!

[@lizchatfield692]

I wonder if you scratch the line if it would break clean , I have used my shears to do this . Will try and make some of these as i have a saw that will do.

[@tombarton7848]

This is an awesome how-to for making an ulu knive! We have a couple in our kitchen, but i think I was to try one of these with the hardened steel (I think we got the 'tourist' version)! Regardless, tha you so much!

[@Bushradical]

Good luck. Let me know how it turns out.

[@chrisgibbie3692]

Great video on Ulu build... Love the process to make the blade. Question, can you use the cast-off saw pieces to make crooked knives? Or brake off custom pieces? The steel would be perfect I believe. Cheers from Canada...

[@Bushradical]

I dont know.....it would depend on weather or not you can make that tight bend in tempered steel.....I would guess NO....but I havent tried it either, so Maybe

[@CapnBart1]

Hi Dave. This was a great video on your process. I purchased one of these for my wife, from this batch. Curious to know if you were gonna produce anymore, in the near future? Wife was interested in getting a second one for herself. Thanks so much. Bart P.

[@Bushradical]

Unfortunately not

[@CapnBart1]

@@Bushradical Thanks for getting back, so quickly. Hope y'all have a good week. Can't wait to see the next video.

[@KCSmith1]

Thanks for the lesson!

[@RoundBoyRanch]

Great video Dave! I like your how to videos, how I just need to finish my projects on the bench now and get to uluing...... Is that a word? Thanks!

[@Bushradical]

.............? I don't know if thats a real word, but I do know spellcheck won't let me type it! LOL it keeps getting changed to "glueing".

[@travis2539]

Awesome video. I had a question tho, can you use a one piece handle with a 3/4 cut/notch through the middle for the blade with some epoxy? Or is the two piece stronger? Thank you for explaining everything, very thorough. Subscribed :)

[@Bushradical]

Yeah, you could do that for sure

[@johnbates8964]

Outstanding!

[@Bushradical]

thanks JB

[@AMindInOverdrive]

Great idea for recycling old saws!

[@Bushradical]

Thanks

[@robertproctor855]

Thanks for the video. I have been wondering about your method of getting the knife blades out of a saw blade. My son and I turn a knife (though not an ulu yet) out every so often using the same way: I learned how in an old edition of Foxfire if you know the books.

[@Bushradical]

I'm aware of the books but Ive never read them. What metal do you use for your knives?

[@regalbowman3143]

Thanx so much for the tutorial, I'm off to my shop to try my hand and making one

[@Bushradical]

Let me know how it turns out.

[@davidbloch5370]

Hahaha that is a really cleaver idea. That was a nice nugget of info thanks

[@Bushradical]

Thanks.

[@phcusnret]

"What ever the lawyers need to see..."

[@jeffnotti9932]

UUUUULLLUUUUU Two great videos man... you know bush craft i not just some jig rigged contraption, it is the use of industrial arts at its finest to improvise elegant solutions. i have been dying to use an ulu for a long time.. i have a pretty extensive collection of knives all of which i use they range from fine chef's knives to a 1/4" thick BK-2 just in case i have to slice tomatoes after field dressing a Buick..(that knife will do it too) Great to watch you work. by the way Narrow Escapes is awesome! i have been really paying attention to the nuances in the stories. those stories go deep. Being radical J

[@Bushradical]

Hey Jeff. I'm super glad you are enjoying the Ben East! Fantastic books and a LOT to learn about how the little things will be what gets you !!!

[@jeffnotti9932]

@@Bushradical OMG Yeah!.. that dollar fire/survival kit may just save your life.. thanks for the insights..