I learned how to shuck oysters from The Hog Island Oyster Lover's Cookbook. I'd never done it before, but after reading this book and buying the knife and gloves they recommended, it was easy peasy. I shucked 2 dozen without ruining a single one. The knife is the Dexter Oyster Knife (4") and I highly recommend it: http://tinyurl.com/ycwy49k The knife isn't sharp. It's not really a knife at all. The pros at Hog Island sharpen theirs, but I didn't and it worked fine.