Hi Mark & All,
It certainly sounds from your description of where it was and how it looked that you've got it.
The NGC/IC project page
http://www.ngcic.org/pubdb.htm
for the Crab nebula (NGC 1952 or M1) provides the following descriptions by Steve Gottlieb (an observer of the highest repute) with different sized 'scopes:
17.5": very bright, unusual potato shape with an irregular surface brightness,
6'x4', broad concentration towards center. Very irregular elongated shape with
extensions or "arms" towards the NW and SE, ragged edges at periphery. A large
dark indentation or "bay" intrudes on the NE side of the SE extension, so this
end is thinner and less prominent. A few faint stars are superimposed. Using
an OIII filter, the overall structure is muted but a bright inner streak is
visible which is not noticeable without the filter.
13": large, bright, irregular potato shape, large indentation on following emd.
8": moderately bright, irregular shape, fairly large, indentation on the NW and
SE ends.
- by Steve Gottlieb
My own notes using 25cm back in 1997 observing from suburbia with a ZLM of about mag +5 were:
x86 34' TF Mag 8.7 Size 6' Only 20 degrees above the NE horizon. in a brighter area of the sky. Appears fairly sizable cloud, 5' x 3.5' in PA 130. No *s immediately associated. Grows broadly and slightly to centre. Visible easily at x56 without filter. The brightest portions, and those which respond most strongly to the UHC filterhave a wide "S" or "Z" shape overlay the centre.
Hope this helps -- from your description I think you've got it.
Best wishes for the season to yourself and all,
Les D