There are intricated carvings on one side of the handles and the other side is signed by Howard Weyahok. Purchased in Alaska by my grandfather during his WWII service. The blade on the knife is stainless steel. Both are in excellent condition. There is no damage seen to the metal and no cracks or chips to the handles. The artist, Howard Weyahok (1911-1976), was from a seal hunting Eskimo village of Point Hope, a settlement of about 200 a little south of Point Barrow. He is also known as Howard Rock, in that Weyahok means "rock" in the Inupiaq language. He had no interest in the whale hunting activities of his tribe, but demonstrated a high proficiency in art, and was urged by his teachers to pursue this as a career. Weyahok started engraving ivory and scrimshaw in the 1940's at the urging of the James L. Houston Manufacturing Company. Besides his life work as a artist, he was extremely active in environmental affairs and Native Indian Rights.