Best Oyster Knives in 2023

Unless you’re planning on your oysters only being good enough for stews, you’ll need the best oyster knife to work with. Shucking is far quicker and better preserves the quality of the oyster meat – and they’re pleasant to work with.

We’ll review some of the best value for money oyster knives with an emphasis on getting you the best results with the least effort and cost possible. By the end of our guide, we’ll get you ready and able to choose your next (or first) oyster knife. You’ll find knives that meet different needs and styles, all to help you get the best value for your money. Let’s get started!

Top 7 Best Oyster Knife Reviews in 2023

We’ve carefully selected the 7 oyster knives we think show the best balance between their price, usability, productivity, overall performance, and durability. We’ve also considered their weight, length, tip style, and more.

You’ll find detailed information about each of the knives, how they are unique, and why they’re worth your attention. We’ll also show you what we did and didn’t like about each of the knives, and the kind of real-world performance you can expect. Let’s jump into our best oyster knife review!

OXO Good Grip Oyster Knife

To get us started, here’s one of the most popular oysters shucking knives on the market. It’s super-affordable and gives you fantastic functionality for its price. It’s a simple and sleek knife that doesn’t go for any of the bells and whistles. This keeps the cost down and makes it one of the easiest oyster knives to use.

The sturdy blade can take a ton of lateral pressure without buckling or bending. You’ll be able to pry open fresh oysters and scoop the juicy meat out without hassle. You’re getting a soft and comfortable handle that supports the force you’ll need to exert while using thick protective gloves.

It’s not a super-heavy handle and helps to keep the overall weight as low as possible. We loved how robust and durable the stainless steel blade is. Oysters have loads of natural salts and this takes a toll on steel blades. They rust easily and corrode in no time.

This is why stainless steel is almost always used thanks to its rust and corrosion-resistant properties. You’ll be able to keep these knives in working order for longer without worrying about losing them to dreadful and fast-spreading rust. Overall, this is one of the most popular picks for the best oyster knife.

Toadfish Professional Oyster Shucking Knife

Using some of the best 420HC stainless steel, you’re getting an oyster knife with impeccable rust and corrosion resistance. The blade is triple-riveted to the handle to ensure longevity and gives the knife a robust and very sturdy feel. The Pakkawood handle is one of the most unique looking and attractive at this price point. It looks and feels like a premium shucking knife.

Your hand is well-protected by the well-designed handguard to give you extra control and safety in case your hand slips. We loved the shorter and broader blade. You can get a solid amount of power when shucking and all the control you’d need when exerting a lot of force with the knife. The overall build is quite compact with a total length of 6.5”.

At 2.5”, the blade is pretty small in comparison with other oyster knives. This lends to its improved durability and sturdiness, as short blades generally perform better than longer ones for shucking oysters. You’re getting one of the most gorgeous picks for the best oyster knife – along with a pair of gloves and a high-quality sheath for free.

Victorinox New Haven Style Oyster Knife

Here’s a compact and sturdy oyster knife with a simple and sleek design. The bright handle immediately stands out not only because of how it looks, but how easy it is to hold. It’s got a non-slip texture to help make sure you don’t lose any grip strength. You can use it with wet and oily hands just as easily as you can with protective gloves on.

The short blade is very strong and can handle frequent tough use without bending or breaking. We love new haven grips and feel that they’re the best suited to opening oysters without meshing or hurting the overall quality of the meat. You’re getting a high-carbon steel makeup that’s highly resistant to rusting and corrosion.

While it’s not as sharp as other steel types, the edge retention is decent, and corrosion resistance is a little more important than sharpness for shucking oysters. You can use it in a dishwasher and it’s NSF approved. You’re getting one of the best oyster knives for raw durability and robust performance at this price point.

Rockland Guard Oyster Shucking Set

Here’s another fantastic value for money knife with a slightly longer and functional blade. You’re getting a resistant stainless steel 3.5” blade and a high-quality ergonomic and low-profile black handle. The handle alone gives you all the slip resistance you’d need from an oyster knife, along with reducing strain on your hands and wrist.

It’s exceptionally comfortable and easy to use the knife. Just this would be good enough, but the stand-out feature is the pair of gloves. They’re incredibly protective and give you 5-tier cut protection, which is one of the best grade materials at this price point. The gloves come in different sizes to ensure you get the right size for your hands.

They combine expertly with the handle to give you a faultless grip and fine control over the sturdy tip of the blade. Beyond this, you’ll be able to machine wash the knife, and not have to touch it up too often thanks to the decent edge retention. Overall, it’s one of our favorites possibly the best oyster knife you can use.

Dexter-Russell New Haven Style Oyster Knife

At 2.75”, this is a slightly short blade. It’s still a functional length and the overall profile of the knife is very classy. The light color and lightweight feel speak to its intelligent and user-friendly design. You’ll find this knife is nothing but pleasant when you’re working it hard.

The non-slip grip goes well with protective gloves and gives you enough traction to use while wet. The slightly angled haven tip is perfect for prying open oysters without damaging the meat inside. In terms of its steel quality, you’re getting resistant high-carbon steel that’s stain-free and keeps your blade clean and shiny for ages.

You’ll be better off hand washing this knife and dry it thoroughly to get the most out of it. Overall, you’re getting a robust and capable knife that will effortlessly shuck almost any oyster you put before it. With its comfortable handle and lightweight build, it’s hard to ignore the value you’re getting.

Wendom Oyster Knife and Shucking Set

This might be the best value for money set in this review if you want a great balance between performance, longevity, and cost. Starting with the gloves, you’re getting the same 5-tier top-class cut resistance. They come in different sizes and give you awesome control over the best oyster knife. These are perfect for the beginner shucker and give you the protection you need to keep learning in safety.

The 3CR13 steel used is robust and capable. It’s not going to bend under lateral pressure and can be sharpened to a decent edge. You’ll need to touch it up relatively often and this is for having a knife made from less brittle steel. You’ve got a longer-than-usual handle that lets you get a good grip on the knife.

It’s another feature that tailors this knife to a beginner as you have more room to work with. As your technique is refined, you’ll be able to get excellent results from even more compact knives. Despite the large handle and the relatively thick blade, it’s not a heavy knife. You’ll have to trouble to carry it around and it has an impeccably balanced and nimble feel to it.

SpeedSun Oyster Shucking Set

If you’ve got big hands or want a full handle design, here’s a fantastic oyster knife. The handle is quite a bit longer than many shucking knives, and it’s significantly thicker towards the base. This helps to guide your hand into the correct grip and helps you hold the knife better for more forceful work.

There’s a copper head where the handle meets the blade. This isn’t too common but helps to protect the wooden handle from splitting or loosening its hold on the blade. Red Rosewood is used for the handles and it’s stunning! It’s been treated to resist moisture damage and rotting. We wouldn’t advise putting this knife into a dishwasher.

The handle is non-slip and has a classy look and feel to it. There’s a little bit of heft (which is always appreciated in a quality oyster knife). Overall, you’re getting a decently sharp edge and a strong tip. You’re getting value for your money with the spare knife, gloves, and a sharpener. It’s one of the best oyster knife sets for the money.

Which Oyster Knife Type Is the Best Match for You?

We’re going to take a deeper look into what matters most when choosing an oyster knife. Nobody likes throwing away money, which is why we want to help you make the most from yours. You’ll learn what knife type suits different need sets, and how important they are for overall performance and versatility. We want to get you ready to buy a knife that puts a smile on your face as your shuck away!

Choose the Right Knife Type for You

There are 4 main different types of oyster knives – each one filling a slightly different role and with its own strengths and weaknesses. First up are Boston oyster knives. The blade is longer and narrower, coming to a more rounded tip. They’re fantastic for shucking oysters from their sides but aren’t great for doing so at the hinges.

Galveston oyster knives are similar to the Boston style in length and tip but are broader. This offers the extra power needed for medium-large oysters. They’re also a little heavier with a slightly bigger handle. New Haven oyster knives are stocky and wide with an upward curving pointed tip.

They have excellent prying power and are fantastic for serving oysters still in their shells (they don’t crack the shell or damage the meat). The fourth and final type is Providence oyster knives. These knives are built for shucking oysters at the hinges. This method can damage other oyster knife types or ruin the oyster when done with the wrong knife.

The blade is short and rather wide, and the tip is flat and pointed. Make sure you choose the right knife type that matches the way you like to shuck your oysters. This is the first step toward getting the perfect oyster knife for you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What Should I Look for in an Oyster Knife?

A: Generally, you want to use a shorter and lighter blade. I prefer the new haven tip as it preserves the oyster’s meat and doesn’t tear anything. Go for a large ergonomic handle and make sure it’s non-slip. Handguards are optional and I find they tend to get in the way. Stainless steel is a must for rust and corrosion resistance.

Q: Does an Oyster Knife Need to Be Sharp?

A: It’s the tip of the knife that opens the oyster. Keep the tip as sharp as you’re comfortable and then touch up the rest of the blade to keep it moderately sharp.

Q: Do Oyster Knives Need to Be Corrosion Resistant?

A: 100% yes. Oysters have tons of natural salts in them and this is extremely corrosive to steel. Make sure the oyster knife you choose features robust corrosion and rust resistance if you want to get any kind of longevity from your knife.

Final Thoughts

Now you’re ready to make your choice. We’ve looked at some awesome options you can consider. Remember to go for whatever best suits your needs. Having the best oyster knife is all about getting something comfortable and easy for you to use. You’ll quickly get a feel for what works best for you and you’ll be shucking oysters like a pro!