Anyone know exactly what this knife is for?

I inherited this from my mom's kitchen. I think it is probably some kind of paring knife (maybe a bird's beak paring knife), but wondered if anyone knew exactly what it is for? The top edge is sharp along with the curved inside blade, and the inside blade is serrated at the tip. It has a short plastic handle Thanks!
  15 answers
  • Luis Luis on Oct 22, 2014
    It looks like a grapefruit knife to me
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Oct 22, 2014
    Don't think it's a grapefruit knife. Citrus knives typically are curved (the flat plane, that is) rather than the cutting edge being curved as yours is. I asked my friend Google for images of "bird's beak knife" and the knife you have fits those shapes somewhat. Again, asking for Google's assistance, I inquired about "grapefruit knife." Your knife bears no resemblance to a grapefruit knife in the images I viewed. I own both a bird's beak knife and a grapefruit knife and if I had to guess, I go for the bird's beak version.
  • AvonelleRed AvonelleRed on Oct 22, 2014
    My mom used to have one of those, same color, even. She used it to peel citrus. Not sure if that is its intended use, but that is what we used it for.
  • Americanmade Americanmade on Oct 22, 2014
    shrimp or lobster knife ?
  • Jackie I Jackie I on Oct 22, 2014
    Looks like it could be for hard shells like abalone, clams or oysters...
  • Shari Shari on Oct 22, 2014
    Shrimp sheller/deveiner knife.
    • AvonelleRed AvonelleRed on Oct 22, 2014
      Ah, so we used ours for the wrong purpose for many years! It's good to know, just in case I ever come across another one. Thank you.
  • Patty @ Always Something Patty @ Always Something on Oct 22, 2014
    Thank you Shari! That is exactly what it looks like. I appreciate your solving the mystery of the funny-shaped knife! Now, where can I get good shrimp this time of year??!
    • Shari Shari on Oct 23, 2014
      @Patty @ Always Something Yes, FRESH seafood of all kinds, available year-round, is one of the many wonderful advantages of living in Florida! I don't have one of these handy-dandy little knifes but I just might have to get one because we have fresh shrimp often. (No pre-pealed and deveined, frozen shrimp for me--gag!)
  • Louis Lieberman Louis Lieberman on Oct 23, 2014
    It might be for hard cheese?
  • Debby Branigan Debby Branigan on Oct 23, 2014
    It's a shrimp deveining/deshelling knife.
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Oct 23, 2014
    Glad the mystery was solved. We don't do much with shellfish in our house so it was a bit foreign to me but I'm always happy to learn something.
  • Karen powell Karen powell on Oct 23, 2014
    It looks like cutco . very expensive cutlery .
    • Rob Bennett Rob Bennett on Oct 24, 2014
      Yes... It does look like Cutco - although the 'ancestor', which was called something else. Like Kwikut or something similar?
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Oct 23, 2014
    the handle also looks like pro knife used in many many deli and restaurants.... many have the white handle,,,, meat cutting knives more often are black...Most "old school" meatcutters used there own wood handle knives, better grip.. Lots of chain stores now provide them, all have plastic handles...Most shrimp you buy frozen are already peeled and deveined,, back in the day- you did that yourself...Use it for what ever you like..and think of her.....
  • Nicole Nicole on Oct 26, 2014
    Shrimp deviener
  • Barbara Abolafia Barbara Abolafia on Oct 28, 2014
    This is a shrimp knife. You slit up through the shell of a raw shrimp from top to tail. then you can easily peel it and de-vein it.
  • Jack Jhon Jack Jhon on Jul 28, 2021

    It depend on your use but it is mad for shrimp you can also use as Survival Knife , kitchen knife , meat cutting knife,