Scalpel Blades: Numbers, Handles and Blade Shapes

Scalpel blades are ordered by number – and anyone who does not know the system behind it quickly buys a blade that does not fit the handle they own. This guide explains which blade shape is intended for which task, which handle belongs to which number and what matters when changing and disposing of blades.

Handle No. 3 or No. 4 – that is the first decision

Scalpel handles and blades follow a fixed system. The mounting lug is what counts:

  • Handle No. 3 – the smaller handle. It takes blades No. 10 to 15. This is the standard for fine work on the nail and in the nail fold.
  • Handle No. 4 – the larger handle. It takes blades No. 18 to 25. These blades are wider and intended for removing material over a larger area.

The blades are not interchangeable between the two systems. A No. 20 does not fit a No. 3 handle, and a No. 15 will not sit securely on a No. 4 handle.

The blade shapes and what they are good for

For handle No. 3

  • No. 10 – the classic belly blade. A rounded cutting curve that works along the surface. The workhorse for controlled removal over an area, in a small format.
  • No. 11 – pointed lancet blade with a straight edge. For stab incisions and for work that has to start at an exact point, for example at the side of the nail.
  • No. 12 – hook blade, sickle-shaped, with the edge on the inside. It cuts from below upwards and suits places a straight edge cannot reach.
  • No. 13 – also hook-shaped, with a different curve than the No. 12.
  • No. 15 – small belly blade with a short cutting curve. The finest of the belly blades and the usual choice for precision work in tight spaces.

For handle No. 4

  • No. 18 and No. 19 – straight and broadly tapering shapes for large areas.
  • No. 20 to No. 25 – large belly blades with an increasingly pronounced curve. They remove material faster but need a firmer hand.

If you only want to buy into one system, handle No. 3 with blades No. 10 and No. 15 will take you furthest in foot and nail care.

Changing the blade without cutting yourself

  1. Never fit or remove a blade with your fingers. A clamp or a blade remover belongs to the basic equipment.
  2. When fitting, hold the blade by its blunt back and slide it onto the lug until it clicks audibly into place.
  3. When removing, guide the blade away from your body, never towards yourself.
  4. Used blades belong in a puncture-proof sharps container, not in household waste.

Carbon steel or stainless steel?

  • Carbon steel can be ground finer and is usually sharper on the first cut. It corrodes faster and is intended as a single-use blade.
  • Stainless steel is less sensitive to moisture and keeps its edge over more cuts.

Both are supplied sterile and individually wrapped. A blade whose packaging is open or damaged is not used – not even if it looks unused.

Who may work with it

Cutting on the foot with a scalpel is professional work. Podiatrists learn cutting technique, tissue assessment and how to handle incidents during their training. For self-treatment at home the scalpel is the wrong tool – not because it is too sharp, but because you cannot judge the depth without practice.

For dealing with calluses yourself, a callus plane, rasp and file are the safe choice. The comparison is in Removing calluses on the feet. With diabetes, circulatory problems or reduced sensation, any cutting treatment on the foot belongs in professional hands as a matter of principle; see Foot care with diabetes.

Matching products

Categories: Scalpels and blades · Podiatry instruments

Further reading: Gouges: designs and blade shapes · Instrument reprocessing in podiatry · Treatments for calluses and corns

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