Oyster Knife

A utensil that is used to pry open the hard shell of an oyster or clam in order to remove the meat. Typically, the knife will have a sharp, beveled blade that can be inserted into the tightly closed shell to pry the shell apart. The blade is then used to cut through the muscle and oyster membrane. A round shield is built into the handle in order to keep the knife and hand from going into or through the sharp edged shell, while also serving as a spot to place the thumb for a firmer grip when holding both the oyster and the knife.