Nic Cage -- Drops $2,000 on MAMMOTH IVORY Steak Knife

Seems Nicolas Cage is finally over that whole "financial ruin" thing -- 'cause dude just dropped TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS on a steak knife in Alaska ... TMZ has learned.

Nic was chillin' in Anchorage Wednesday -- when he rolled into a bad ass custom blade shop called Northern Knives.

We're told Cage fell in love with a Don Dezarn original -- which featured MAMMOTH IVORY in the handle and a patriotic bald eagle engraved onto the 4-inch blade.

The knife is primarily used as a decorative piece, and one knife expert tells us it's common for people to wear similar blades as a holstered accessory with a "nice suit."

Knife experts tell us ... $2,000 is pretty reasonable for a knife of that caliber. But the crazy part ... Nic told people inside he plans to use his fancy shank to cut his steak!!!