so im helping out opening a new restaurant, and i am doing oysters for the first time since getting into handmade knives.
they have the typical dexter "new haven style" on hand, and i was not enjoying myself one bit. ive done a fair share of oysters, but never really looked at the tool. after work, i went looking online, but after a 12 hour first day, passed right out.
the next day a kid worked who had an r. murphy "damariscotta style". wood handled and riveted, substantially pointier and sharper, and it worked really well for me. i went online, found it for a totally reasonable 37 bucks, but then jumped down into the rabbit hole and literally spent all day yesterday researching oyster knives.
i found it totally fascinating how many different styles there are, and i am interested in digging into their history/diversity a lot more, but for now, i need an oyster knife. i will probably just grab the murphy, but i was wondering if anybody has any interesting alternate options i am not finding. i watched some european shucking contests and noticed just about every shucker had a radically different tool from what i had found at american based sites, some double ended with spoons or scrapers, but havent been able to find much info on them yet.
also looked into some customs, and it was immediately clear that i wasnt comfortable spending 250 on an oyster knife yet.
so i guess i am looking for advice on recommended styles or knives from folks with experience, as well as alternate sources for info or purchasing different styles around the world.
thanks, cheers!
they have the typical dexter "new haven style" on hand, and i was not enjoying myself one bit. ive done a fair share of oysters, but never really looked at the tool. after work, i went looking online, but after a 12 hour first day, passed right out.
the next day a kid worked who had an r. murphy "damariscotta style". wood handled and riveted, substantially pointier and sharper, and it worked really well for me. i went online, found it for a totally reasonable 37 bucks, but then jumped down into the rabbit hole and literally spent all day yesterday researching oyster knives.
i found it totally fascinating how many different styles there are, and i am interested in digging into their history/diversity a lot more, but for now, i need an oyster knife. i will probably just grab the murphy, but i was wondering if anybody has any interesting alternate options i am not finding. i watched some european shucking contests and noticed just about every shucker had a radically different tool from what i had found at american based sites, some double ended with spoons or scrapers, but havent been able to find much info on them yet.
also looked into some customs, and it was immediately clear that i wasnt comfortable spending 250 on an oyster knife yet.
so i guess i am looking for advice on recommended styles or knives from folks with experience, as well as alternate sources for info or purchasing different styles around the world.
thanks, cheers!