Crooked Knife

Step 4 Cut, Cut, and Straighten

Cut off the end of the handle so it feels better on your thumb.
Cut off the curled-over tip of the blade.
Straighten the blade to suit yourself.

Here's a finished knife next to a stock one for comparison.
Suit the bend to the work you're doing.
The knives used for finishing cedar canoe planks are mostly straight with a slight bend in the tip.
The Salmon People use a crooked knife with a very long handle and a very small bent blade. They use it for carving details on totem poles among other things.

I bought this unmodified hoof knife for $5.35 in a feed store.
It was made in Pakistan. It has a stainless steel blade. Non-stainless is usually better. A blade that can rust is usually much better steel.
Be aware that hoof knives come in right-handed and left-handed versions.
Get the right kind for your handed-ness.

to be continued with details of proper posture for crooked knifing...