Scalpel Handles and Nasal Knives: No. 3, No. 4, No. 7, Beaver and Joseph
Instrument guides
Scalpel Handles and Nasal Knives: No. 3, No. 4, No. 7, Beaver and Joseph
Which scalpel handle takes which blade family, when to choose a long, round or graduated handle, and the fixed blade nasal knives used in rhinoplasty.
A scalpel handle takes detachable blades, and the handle number decides which blade family fits. No. 3 handles and their long and angled versions take the small blade family used for fine incisions. No. 4 handles take the large blade family. The slim No. 7 suits fine, pencil grip work. Round Beaver style handles take mini blades for very fine cuts. Nasal knives such as the Joseph and Cottle are different: their blades are fixed, shaped for incisions inside the nose.
How did the detachable blade scalpel begin?
Morgan Parker patented a two piece scalpel in 1915, with a handle that locked onto a replaceable blade, and with Charles Russell Bard he founded the Bard-Parker company, according to the history of the scalpel. Parker numbered his handles and blades, and those numbers, extended over the years, are still how handles and blades are matched. The American College of Surgeons history records that he showed his design at the College's Clinical Congress.
Which handles and knives do we make?
| Instrument | Length | Use |
|---|---|---|
| No. 3, No. 3 graduated | Standard | Small blades, general fine incisions |
| No. 3L, No. 3L angled | 20.5 to 21 cm | Small blades, deeper reach |
| No. 4, No. 4L | Standard, 21 cm | Large blades |
| No. 7, No. 7K short | 12 to 16.5 cm | Small blades, pencil grip |
| Round handle, Beaver round, Barron | 12.5 to 16.5 cm | Rolling between the fingers, mini blades |
| Joseph button end, Joseph 16 cm, Joseph double edge | 15 to 16 cm | Rhinoplasty incisions and dissection |
| Cottle nasal knife, Cottle double edged, Converse, Freer septum knife | 14 to 16 cm | Septal and nasal incisions |
| Ballenger swivel knife, bayonet | 19 cm, 4 mm blade | Cutting septal cartilage |
How do you choose a handle?
- Blade first. Pick the blade shape the incision needs, then the handle that takes it.
- Length. Long (L) handles reach into deep or narrow fields. Angled handles keep your hand out of your view.
- Grip. Flat handles suit a firm grip, round handles roll between the fingers for curved, fine incisions.
- Graduated handles carry a centimetre scale for quick measurements on the table.
Always fit and remove blades with a needle holder or a blade remover, never with your fingers.
How should handles and knives be cleaned?
Remove the blade before cleaning and dispose of it in a sharps container. Clean the blade fitting slot. Protect fixed blade nasal knives in a rack so the edges are not dulled. Never leave instruments in saline, because it causes corrosion. Our instrument care guide gives the full routine, and the CDC guidance on cleaning instruments before sterilization explains why cleaning comes before the autoclave.
Frequently asked questions
Which blades fit a No. 3 handle?
The small blade family. The No. 4 handle takes the large blade family.
What is a 3L handle?
A long version of the No. 3 handle, for deeper or narrower fields.
What is a Joseph knife used for?
Incisions and dissection in rhinoplasty. The button end version has a rounded tip that protects the tissue beyond the cut.
Can scalpel handles be autoclaved?
Yes, with the blade removed.
Related instrument guides
- Plastic surgery scissors
- Rhinoplasty osteotomes and chisels
- Septal and periosteal elevators
- Tissue and dressing forceps
Order handles and knives
See the full scalpel handle and knife range. For a set for a hospital, a clinic or a distributor, send us your list and we will send you a quote.