Walrus Oosik Handle Ulu Style Pocket Knife
This walrus oosik handle Ulu shaped pocket knife is about 2 3/4″ long when folded and just over 4 1/2 when open. The handle consists of fossilized walrus oosik. This is a beautiful and very durable material found along the northwest coast of Alaska. Alaskan knife maker, Bob Merry, designed and made the knife here in Anchorage.
Bob and his family have been carving and making knives in Alaska for over 30 years. Each year, Bob spends a month or more in the Arctic wilderness. He collects naturally shed antler for his knife handles and carvings. Additionally, he gets mammoth bone from miners, and artifacts along with other materials from hunters that find them while in the back country.
The history of oosiks, or walrus penile bones, is deeply intertwined with the indigenous cultures of the Arctic, including Alaska, Canada, Russia, and Siberia. These cultures have a long history of utilizing oosiks for various practical and cultural purposes. For instance, indigenous peoples historically used oosiks to craft tools and weapons because of their hardness and durability. These tools included knives, harpoon heads, and other implements essential for survival in harsh Arctic environments.
As this knife consists of natural material, it will exhibit variations in grain and color.
