6.5″ Straight Knife with Walrus Jaw Bone Handle
This 6.5″ straight knife with walrus jaw bone handle comes with a heavy duty leather sheath. The handle is made of walrus jaw bone. It is a beautiful and very durable material found by Alaska Natives. They beachcomb throughout Alaska and sell them to the carvers and artists.
The knife’s natural material causes variations in grain and color for each knife.
Alaskan knife maker, Bob Merry, designs and makes the knife here in Anchorage. Bob and his family have been carving and making knives in Alaska for over 30 years. Each year he spends a month or more in the Arctic wilderness collecting naturally shed antler for his knife handles and carvings. He gets mammoth bone from miners, and artifacts and other materials from hunters that find them while in the back country.
People often crafted the walrus jaw bone into cutting implements such as knives or scrapers due to its size and strength. The natural curvature of the jaw allowed for an ergonomic grip. This facilitated precise control during tasks that required cutting or shaping materials like leather, wood, or even bone. The sharp edges formed through careful carving or grinding transformed the jaw bone into an effective cutting tool. Thus, making it capable of withstanding the demands of daily life in harsh environments.
