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 have. This guide explains which blade shape is intended for what, which handle belongs to which number and what matters when changing and disposing of them.

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

Scalpel handles and blades follow a fixed system. What is decisive is the mounting lug:

• Handle no. 3 – the smaller handle. It takes blades no. 10 to 15. That is the standard for delicate 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 an area.

The blades are not interchangeable between the two systems. A no. 20 does not fit a no. 3 handle, and a no. 15 does 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 draws across the surface. The workhorse for controlled removal over an area in a small format.
• No. 11 – a pointed lancet blade with a straight edge. For stab cuts and for work where you have to start at an exact point, at the side of the nail for instance.
• No. 12 – a hook blade, sickle-shaped, with the edge on the inside. It draws from the bottom upwards and is suitable for places you cannot reach with a straight edge.
• No. 13 – likewise hook-shaped, with a different curve from the no. 12.
• No. 15 – a small belly blade with a short cutting curve. The finest of the belly blades and the usual choice for precision work in a confined space.

For handle no. 4

• No. 18 and no. 19 – straight and broadly tapering shapes respectively, for large areas.
• No. 20 to no. 25 – large belly blades with an increasingly pronounced curve. They remove material more quickly but demand more guidance in return.

Anyone who only wants to buy into one system will get furthest in foot and nail care with handle no. 3 and blades no. 10 and no. 15.

Changing the blade without cutting yourself

1. Never fit or remove a blade with your fingers. A clamp or a blade remover is part of the basic equipment.
2. When fitting it, hold the blade by the blunt back and push it onto the lug until it audibly clicks into place.
3. When removing it, 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 more finely and is usually sharper on the first cut. It corrodes more quickly 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 packed. 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 a professional activity. Podiatrists learn how to guide a cut, how to assess tissue and how to deal with incidents during their training. For self-treatment at home the scalpel is the wrong tool – not because it is too sharp, but because without practice you cannot judge the depth.

For dealing with hard skin yourself, a shaver, a rasp and a file are the safe choice. The comparison is in Removing hard skin from the feet. In cases of diabetes, circulatory disorders or reduced sensation, every cutting treatment on the foot belongs in expert hands as a matter of principle; see Foot care with diabetes.

An overview of the models

• Handles: Scalpel handle no. 3 · Scalpel handle no. 4
• For handle no. 3: Blades no. 10 · no. 11 · no. 15
• For handle no. 4: Blades no. 20 · no. 23
• Sets: Handle no. 3 with blades no. 10 · Handle no. 4 with blades no. 20

Categories: Scalpels and blades · Podiatry instruments

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