I used to think Deglon was the best oyster knife but Nogent has a sharper thiner point that slips between the shell easier. This is designed to go in the side and cut the abductor muscle but it works for the hinge as well. You can break the tip in the hinge if you are not careful but it is so much easier that it is worth using and replacing when they break. They are very inexpensive. I wish they made the same knife with a stronger tip, I would pay 5 times the price.