Out highest recommended product for today is going to be the oyster knife from R. Murphy Duxbury which is superior grip and the blade is made from high-quality steel which will not bend.
For some people, there is nothing that brings more satisfaction as dropping that juicy and succulent oyster from its shell into your mouth. Hmmm, I can taste it already.
There is only one problem.
Opening the bugger can be a pain especially if you do not know how to open it and if you do not have the necessary tools to do so. After the struggle, you end up with an oyster which has small chunks of broken shell or you might have accidentally cut yourself.
We have all been there.
Luckily some of us do not need to go through this daunting process. If you have the right tools and knowledge on how to open the oysters, then you will not have any trouble. It is also the main reason why I have written this article which will help you a ton at opening an oyster flawlessly.
In this article, I have given you a short beginners guide on how to choose the best oyster knives and also how to shuck them properly.
Guess what?
I have also reviewed 5 of the best oyster knives for shucking which so that you do not have to add more frustration to your search for the perfect knife.
Oyster Knife Summary
- 1. R. Murphy Duxbury (Top Pick)
- 2. Dexter-Russell S121 (Budget Friendly)
- 3. Dalstrong
- 4. Rockland Guard
- 5. Wusthof Classic
Let’s start with the beginners guide below:
How To Choose The Best Oyster Knife?
In this section, I am going to show you how to choose the best oyster knife. I will cover important aspects such as the grip, the blade quality and length and also some additional safety features. I will also show you how to shuck the oyster properly and how to eat it.
Choosing the best grip
Remember that working with oysters will put you in a wet and slippery environment where your grip can become compromised. This is the reason why you need an oyster knife that has enough grip so that you can open its shell efficiently and without any accidents. When it comes to grip, two factors will arise.
The type of material used to make the handle and we should also look at its form. One of the best types of materials to use is polypropylene or plastic. You do not want to waste your time with handles made from steel or metal. Wooden handles are also good with grip, but the shape is more important in that case.
When it comes to the shape of the handle, you want a shape that will allow you to use all of your fingers and your entire palm. Handles that are small and even will not provide the best grip. You also want handles where its width is more than its height to give you some extra leverage to work with. The two knives with the best handles regarding the grip are going to be the R. Murphy Duxbury and the Dalstrong.
The blade quality and length
One of the most frustrating things to happen while trying to open an oyster is for the blade to bend. If you are going to buy a low-quality oyster knife where the blade is made from a soft and weak metal, then this is what’s going to happen. You want to use a knife that will not bend. The best types of material to use is stainless steel or most high-carbon types of steel.
You also want an oyster knife where the blade is just the right length. If the blade is too short, it will become hard to open larger oysters. When the blade is too long, you will have a harder to use it as well. The ideal length is within a range of just over 2” up to 3.5”. Anything longer or shorter will give you a hard time opening an oyster. The shortest blade in this category is the R. Murphy Duxbury while the longest one is this one from Rockland Guard.
Additional safety features
To things can happen to injure or cut yourself while working with oysters. The first thing that can happen is that the knife can slip out the oyster and puncture or cut the hand which is holding the oyster. This injury is prevalent, especially in wet and slippery conditions. The second type of injury is where you cut yourself with the oyster’s shell.
Remember that the oyster’s shell is also sharp and this accident happens when the knife does not have a hilt or anything to prevent the blade from entering too deep into its shell. Two of the best ways to avoid an injury is with the help of cut resistant gloves and a knife that has a hilt. I have listed the Rockland Guard package which includes both an oyster knife and a set of cut resistant gloves. Secondly, the Dalstrong and the Wusthof Classic have a wide hilt which will prevent the oyster’s shell from reaching your hand.
How to open/shuck an oyster
It will be inappropriate from me help you choose the best oyster knife without showing you how to use it. I will also show you how to eat it.
- Best storage method. Whether you buy them from your local grocery shop or you catch them yourself from the sea, the storage method stays the same. Oysters should always be kept on ice and NOT be put in an airtight container. Remember that they need oxygen, and you want to keep them alive for as long as possible, and if they die, they will start to rot.
- Give it a good scrub. If you bought them from a grocery shop, then they might have already done this part for you. If you caught them fresh from the sea, then it might be a good idea to scrub the outer shell to clean. There might still be some sand or some broken shells attached to the outer shell which you want to remove first.
- The positioning. Once the oyster is cleaned, you can place it upside down on a clean and dry towel. Make sure that the hinge of the oyster is facing in your direction.
- Opening the shell. Insert the tip of the oyster knife into the hinge of the oyster. Apply a decent amount of pressure while wiggling the knife back and forth. Remember not to apply too much pressure as you can break its shell.
- Cut the bottom abductor muscle. This muscle attached the bottom shell with the shell on top and is what keeps the shells attached. To do this, you need to move the knife along the inside of the shell carefully to cut this muscle. Once this muscle is cut, you can safely remove the bottom shell from the oyster.
- Cut the top abductor muscle. The top abductor muscle is the muscle that attaches the top part of the shell (that forms the cup) to the oyster. Slid the knife underneath the oyster and cut the muscle that is connecting it to the shell. Try not to damage the oyster or spill some of the juices. You can also flip the oyster so that the smooth part is on top.
Enjoying the oyster
There are many ways to eat an oyster, but my favorite methods are with lemon and Tabasco sauce. Once the oyster is opened and ready to eat, always present it on ice because there is nothing grosser than eating a warm oyster. Most people prefer to eat the first oyster naked (without any sauce) before adding any sauce. After you have tasted the oyster for what it is, you can add some sauce or squeeze a lemon on it.
It is best only to add a little bit of the sauce without drowning the oyster in it because you still want to taste the oyster. Another thing to remember is that the shell is your spoon. Do not remove and eat the oyster with a fork because you then leave all of those juices behind. Take the oyster while it is still in its shell and tip it over into your mouth. Once it is in your mouth, chew it a couple of times and then swallow it.
#1 R. Murphy Duxbury (Top Pick)
Best for: If you are looking for the ultimate grip and a sturdy oyster knife that will not bend, then you need to take a look at this oyster knife from R. Murphy Duxbury.
- Editors Rating: 10/10
- Blade Length: 2 1/8”
- Weight: 2.4 oz
This oyster knife is inexpensive and is enough to do the job. You do not need any fancy equipment to shuck an oyster. As long as you have an oyster knife that has a firm grip and where the blade will not bend the moment you turn it to open the oyster. This oyster knife has a superior polypropylene plastic handle that will provide all the grip that you will ever need. The handle itself is also formed in such a way where it will fit effortlessly into your hand.
This blade is just over 2” long and is made from 420HC high carbon stainless steel which is a sturdy material which will not bend. The blade will also endure the tension created when you turn the wrist to open the shell.
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#2 Dexter-Russell S121 (Budget Friendly)
Best for: This oyster knife from Dexter-Russell is best for those that are on a budget that does not want to spend a lot of money on an oyster knife.
- Editors Rating: 7.5/10
- Blade Length: 2.75″
- Weight: 2.4 oz
This knife from Dexter-Russell has a Sani-Safe handle which will provide excellent grip in wet and slippery conditions. The form and shape of the handle also make it easy to work with. The blade itself is 2.75″ long and is made from high alloy and carbon steel which means it will not break or bend once enough force is applied to it. The blade is a little bit longer than that of the Murphy Duxbury which makes it ideal for opening larger oysters.
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#3 DALSTRONG
Best for: This oyster blade is for individuals that are after a knife that is both stylish and efficient at the same time.
- Editors Rating: 9/10
- Blade Length : 2.75″
- Weight: 15.8 oz
This knife from Dalstrong has a beautiful laminated pakkawood handle that gives it a professional and stylish look. The wooden handle is also laminated which provides it with a beautiful finish and makes it resistant to moisture. The handle is also shaped to give you the best grip and has a knife bolster to provide you with an extra layer of safety.
The blade is also made out of high-carbon ThyssenKrupp German steel which makes it sturdy and wear resistant. Chromium is also added to the blade to make it even stronger and resistant to rust and stains. The blade is attached to the handle with the help of three rivets so that it does not come loose from the handle. The knife also comes with a sheath to protect the blade.
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#4 Rockland Guard
Best for: This product is ideal for those that want cut resistant gloves along with their oyster knife for some extra safety.
- Editors Rating: 8.5/10
- Blade Length: 3.5’’
- Weight: 6.4 oz
Let’s start with the knife. The knife comes with a 3.5’’ blade which has the longest blade so far in this review. The knife itself is around 8.25” long, and the handle is made from plastic to give you superior grip. The blade has also been given an optimal shucking design to make it a breeze at opening oysters.
The gloves are also essential. Working with oysters puts you in a wet and slippery environment which makes it easy for the knife to slip past out of the oyster to cut your hand. The cut resistance gloves make it easier to open oysters without the risk of cutting yourself. The gloves also come in four sizes which include size Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large. The gloves are also machine washable which makes them easy to wash.
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#5 Wusthof Classic
Best for: This oyster knife from Wusthof is excellent for those that want a trustworthy and which is safe to use.
- Editors Rating: 8/10
- Blade Length: 2.5″
- Weight: 4.6 oz
This product has a blade which is 2.5” long which is one of the shorter blades in this review. The width of the blade makes up for the length which makes it easier to open the oyster when twisting your wrist. The blade is also made from High Carbon German stainless steel to make it more durable against wearing out and rust. The knife is also more expensive than most of the other knives because of the high-quality steel being used. The handle also has a hilt which will protect your fingers from the sharp oyster shells when your hand should slip. The construction of the knife is also of high quality to prevent the handle from coming loose from the blade.
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Oyster Knife Comparison Table
| Product Name | Blade Length | Weight | Editors Rating |
| 1. R. Murphy Duxbury (Top Pick) | 2 1/8” | 2.4 oz | 10/10 |
| 2. Dexter-Russell S121 (Budget Friendly) | 2.75″ | 2.4 oz | 7.5/10 |
| 3. Dalstrong | 2.75″ | 15.8 oz | 9/10 |
| 4. Rockland Guard | 3.5’’ | 6.4 oz | 8.5/10 |
| 5. Wusthof Classic | 2.5″ | 4.6 oz | 8/10 |
Additional Knives That You Might Like
Eating oysters are fun and something that I do myself, but sometimes there are more to knives that meet the eye. This section will give you a brief overview of some of the other types of knives that you might find.
Backpacking knives
Knives for backpacking are best suited if you want something small enough to fit perfectly inside your backpack. You might also have the option to carry the knife with you. The blade should be strong enough to cut small pieces of wood and rust-resistant.
Knife sharpening stones
If you like to sharpen the knives yourself, then you might want to consider learning more about knife sharpening stones. These types of stones have been used for hundreds of years to create and maintain the cutting edge of a knife.
Barlow knives
The Barlow knife is a small hand-sized knife that can also fit inside your pocket. It generally has two blades and has a unique handle to it.
Bowie knives
Hand-forged bowie knives are big, sharp, and very durable. Have you ever seen the movie called Crocodile Dundee? This is where the knife got a lot of its fame from.
Happy Eating
Now you know how to choose the best oyster knife, how to open it and also how to enjoy it. I have also given you a list of up to 5 different oyster knives which will make your job a breeze at opening the oyster and enjoying its juicy meat. Visit this page for a full report on all of the knives that we have reviewed.
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