Walrus/Steller's Sea Cow (?) tusk handle, damascus (?) steel knife-like thing

[Rakot]

My father died a year and a half ago, and while looking through his things, I have found this... knife-like thing. My father used to work with indigenous peoples of the Russian north for many years, and this knife was given to him by the head of one small Eskimo community.

I remember he said it is very valuable and vaguely recall him saying that its handle is carved out of Steller's Sea Cow bone or tusk, though to my eye the handle looks more like walrus tusk. The blade itself looks somewhat like Damascus steel, but it may be something else entirely.

What I'm interested in is finding out

1. What the handle is made from
2. What the blade is made from
3. How much it's worth (if at all)

Thanks in advance.

 

[NickWheeler]

Well I can't tell you much about it, but since you seemed a little unsure on what to call it, I'd definitely file that under the ULU category.

From what you said, I'd hazard a guess that the blade was made from an old spring or saw blade... but that's just a guess. The "pattern" that's visible on the blade just looks like decarb from heat-treating to me. So I'd say it's just a simple carbon steel.

Kind of freaky looking with those faces! LOL I'd say it's ivory, but I'm having a hard time seeing what kind of pattern/structure is visible on the ends of the handle.

Hope somebody can give you a better answer.

 

[Russ Andrews]

The handle does appear to be a form of ivory. What type isn't clear as
walrus would normally show some dentine on one or both ends. That isnt
evident in the photos.

A semicircular blade would usually be refered to as an Ulu, however
Ulu handles are usually attatched directly to the blade.

Knowing which native peoples decorate their faces and clothing in the
manner shown would help in isolating time and region of origin.

A closer examination of the edge bevel might help determine whether
the steel is laminated.

As to value? Bernard Levine's forum ( here on BladeForum) would be
a better place to ask.

 

[Burl Source]

My opinion is that the piece would have more value to a collector of Traditional Native Art. The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture would be a good place to start. They are located at the University of Washington. Here is a link to their website.

Any information you are able to provide such as when it was received, where and from whom will help.

 

[Mark Knapp]

The handle is walrus ivory, I can just make out the tapioca core on the end views, sea cows did not have ivory. It is certainly not bone. The blade is cut from hand saw blades, that is what is traditional, it is considered almost sacrilege to use anything else. In some villages of Canada, Alaska and Siberia the posts are quite traditional and in some places the rule, and copper like yours is very common. Yours is not ancient, it made the use of contemporary copper round stock that was new at the time it was built, as apposed to having been old when it was presented to your father.

I have never bought one from Siberia, though I have seen a few. I have bought and sold many of it's Alaskan counterparts. Demand and value of them has been fluctuating on things like that like crazy in the last few years.

I have seen similar items like that sell at estate auctions, like I said, sometime they go very cheap, like a couple hundred bucks. Sometimes they go for much more like six hundred. If I had it in my store I would be asking about $450.00 to $500.00, I might have to keep it a while at that price.