Best Available Clam Knife?

[Jackal]

My girlfriend and I have been going butter clamming near Port Townsend, WA lately and have been digging some monster 4"-5" butter clams. We have been using the tips of thin, flexible blades of my Mora fillet knives to cut the muscles. Its working ok, but we have wasted a little meat with the tiny pointed blade. I'm looking for a shorter 3-4", flexible, SHARP blade that we can curve with the shell to slice the muscles holding the shell together intact. Most of the clam knives I see for sale are practically blunt instruments. Anyone have any ideas? Our fillet knives are dangerously overkill.

 

[Meplat 308]

As someone who grew up on the Great South Bay of Long Island NY back in the '60's I have treaded up more than a few bushels of cherrystone (small) and quahog (large) clams. Never heard of a butterclam but hey you're on the other side of the country.

We never used really sharp or particularly flexible knives. Just a regular utility knife with a non slip handle and a relatively good edge. Blades with a slight wedge shape worked best. I'd hold the clam with the hinge side against the palm of my hand and hold the cutting edge above the halves on the other side. One good squeeze and you're in. A quick slice and a scoop on the top & bottom and its done. Add a little horseradish, a slug of beer, repeat as needed.

Give someone who's never opened a clam a sharp knife and you'll be giving them a ride to the ER.

YMMV.

 

[grampajack]

You could buy a clam knife and sharpen yourself, or have it done at a knife shop. I've never shucked a clam in my life, but I had to click on this thread out of curiosity to see if it was actually about clams or if it was some obscure gun terminology I hadn't ever heard before.

 

[Meplat 308]

How long before the "What caliber for clams?" question ?

Oh wait...

 

[Jackal]

Our big butterclams need a very flexible blade in order to cut the scallop like muscles as close to the shell as possible on either end. I'd love to find a really flexible 3-4" bladed knife that'd take a good edge. My girlfriend is a doctor, she is no stranger to knife use, so safety isnt a HUGE concern Still dont know why she loves me...

 

[bikerdoc]

Growing up on the New England coast many years ago grand pa would take a 2 inch wide paint scraper, round it and sharpen it.

 

[mainecoon]

Is this considered tactical or hunting? For razor clams I would get a Cold Steel stiletto knife. For butter clams a putty knife, and for quahogs a Becker BK10.

 

[Jackal]

Is this considered tactical or hunting? For razor clams I would get a Cold Steel stiletto knife. For butter clams a putty knife, and for quahogs a Becker BK10.

Haha. I ordered a couple Dexter clam knives, I'll give them a shot. 3.3lbs of butterclam meat pictured. 25lbs whole before cleaning.

 

[DanMar757]

I love these high quality oyster knives from R. Murphy Knives for dealing with our Chesapeake Bay oysters. They are American made and come in a variety of styles, materials and blade configurations. They have clam and scallop knives as well, but I don't have any experience with those. Check them out here:

https://www.rmurphyknives.com/store/oyster-knives.html

Then there are these pieces of art:

http://www.williamsknife.com/the-stainless-damascus-edisto.html

DanMar757

 

[Double_J]

You can't go wrong with Dexter Russel oyster knives. Most of the seafood places back home keep a stash of them in the back as they work and are easy to clean/sanitize.

 

[kBob]

I am sorry but....

Everybody back off! The Clam has a knife!

Sorry, I get silly near scallop season.

-kBob

 

[Jackal]

Went again today. Dug 20lbs in 30 minutes. Cant wait for my new knives to arrive, tired of using the long arse filet knives. Kind of dangerous...

 

[rabid wombat]

I have to go here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/geoduck/

If you have not watched Mike Rowe and geoducks, look it up

What knife?

 

[Jackal]

I have to go here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/geoduck/

If you have not watched Mike Rowe and geoducks, look it up

What knife?

Ordered up a couple Dexter Russel clam knives, the ones with the white handles. I got 2 factory seconds for $9. I'll just regrind the goofy edge's with the Worksharp. Those 'Ducks are 2-3ft down in the sand, better be ready for some serious digging! You can keep 3 per day. I've done it, but its a LOT of work.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

My Grandpa used to take me clam digging at Tomales on the good low tides when I was a kid. He called them "goose neck" clams. My job was to lay down in the mud and reach into the hole for the clam. The ones that he didn't eat raw we'd take home and mom would make chowder.
Long time ago...