While at first glance this looks like a 'crooked knife', the angles of its design are all wrong. It cannot be used as a crooked knife is supposed to be used. That is, palm up pulling towards you. The blade should have a 15-25º angle to the handle in the horizontal plane. An argument can also be made that it should have about a 10-15º angle to the handle in the vertical plane, although many makers of crooked knives disagree about that. The angle in the horizontal plane allows the user to hold the knife in a more natural position, while this knife would require one to have one's elbow inside their ribcage! Ok, that is a exaggeration but, that's what it feels like. One could heat it a bit and bend it up in the vertical plane, which would make it a little better but, to change it in the horizontal plane would require rehandling the knife. Save your money and either make your own out of an old file or, find someone who could do that for you. I bought an old blade 45 yrs ago that made you make your own handle, which took a little finagleing and I also bought this knife some time ago and have played with it but, been unable to make it work comfortably.