Guide
#23 Scalpel Blade: Shape, Handle Fit and Uses (vs #24 and #22)
The #23 is a leaf-shaped scalpel blade sharpened along its leading edge, made for long cuts in thick material such as leather, hide and large specimens. It fits the #4 handle, not the #3 or #7. Need the classic big curve? Use a #22. Need a more semicircular edge? Use a #24.
Not medical advice. We quote the maker on how surgeons use the #23 only to explain the shape. Our blades are sold for craft, hobby, study and dissection, not as medical devices.
The #23 blade at a glance
| Spec | #23 scalpel blade |
|---|---|
| Shape | Swann Morton calls it a “leaf-shaped” blade, sharpened along its leading edge |
| Fitting | No. 4 range (blade shapes 18 to 36) |
| Fits these handles | #4 in our store. Swann Morton lists handles 4, 4L, 4 Graduated and 6B. |
| Does not fit | #3 and #7 handles |
| Same fitting, similar jobs | #22 (large curve) and #24 (semicircular edge), both on the #4 handle |
| Our packs | Carbon steel, 10 blades, each in its own sterile pouch (gamma radiation, as declared by the manufacturer) |
| Edge length | Not published by the maker, so we do not print one |
There is no #23 twin for the #3 handle. If you only own a #3 or #7, the closest curved cutting shape is the #10.
What a #23 blade is used for
The leaf shape puts a long sharpened leading edge on a large blade, so you can draw it through thick material in one stroke instead of sawing at it.
| Job | Why the #23 works | Also look at |
|---|---|---|
| Leather | Long cuts through thick hide on the #4 handle | #10 on a #3 handle for skiving thin leather and trimming edges |
| Taxidermy and skinning | A long edge for opening and skinning larger specimens | #22 for the classic curved edge |
| Large-specimen dissection | Long, even cuts through big muscle groups and skin | #20, #21 and #22 in our #20, #21 and #22 guide |
| A fresh edge, nothing to fit | The disposable #23 comes ready to use, sterile, in a box of 10 | The #4 handle set if you want to change blades |
In surgery, Swann Morton says the No. 23 is “used for making long incisions such as an upper midline incision of the abdomen during the repair of a perforated gastric ulcer” (Swann Morton No. 23 product page, read 11/11/2026). That is the maker’s description of clinical use, not a use we sell for.
#23 vs #24 vs #22
All three fit the same #4 handle, so the choice is only about the shape of the edge.
| Blade | Shape (Swann Morton) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| #23 | “Leaf-shaped”, sharpened along its leading edge | Long cuts in leather and hide, skinning |
| #24 | “Slightly larger than the No.23”, more semicircular, again sharpened along its leading edge | Long cuts where you want a broad, rounded edge |
| #22 | A large version of the No. 10 with a curved edge and a flat, unsharpened back | Big, sweeping curved cuts |
The quick rule: take the #23 for a leaf-shaped edge, the #24 if you want a slightly larger, rounder edge, and the #22 if you want the classic big curve. The maker also lists the #24 for long incisions in general surgery and in autopsy procedures, which is why it turns up in large-specimen work. The full chart for every number is in our scalpel blade sizes guide.
Which handle fits a #23 blade?
A #23 goes on a #4 handle, the larger handle in the range. It will not lock onto a #3 handle or a #7 handle: the No. 3 fitting is smaller. More on fittings in our scalpel handle sizes guide.
Shop #23 blades
No handle yet? Take the set. Have a #4? Take the blade pack. Want a fresh edge with nothing to fit? Take the disposables.
- Bestseller
#23 Scalpel Set: #4 Stainless Handle + 10 Sterile #23 Blades
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#23 Scalpel Blades, Sterile Carbon Steel (Pack of 10)
#23bladesBlades for #4 Handles10 sterile blades. Fits #4 handle. Original price was: $14.99.$12.99Current price is: $12.99. $1.30 per bladeAdd to cart -
#23 Sterile Disposable Scalpels, Box of 10
#23disposableDisposable ScalpelsBox of 10, sterile, handle built in. Nothing to fit. Original price was: $22.99.$19.99Current price is: $19.99. $2.00 per scalpel100+ sold worldwideAdd to cart
Prefer the #24?
Same #4 handle, slightly larger and more semicircular edge. The set and the blade pack:
For leatherwork
For thick hide, take the #23. For skiving thin leather and trimming edges on a #3 handle, read our #10 blade guide.
Fitting and changing a #23 safely
- Fit and remove blades with pliers or a blade remover, never your fingers.
- Carbon steel can rust: dry the blade after use and store it dry.
- Drop used blades into a blade disposal box, never the bin.
Frequently asked questions
Both fit the #4 handle and are sharpened along the leading edge. Swann Morton describes the #23 as leaf-shaped and the #24 as slightly larger and more semicircular. The #24 has the broader, rounder edge.
The #24 is a large blade for long cuts. Swann Morton lists it for long incisions in general surgery and in autopsy procedures. In our store it sits next to the #23 for long cuts on the #4 handle, when you want a slightly larger, rounder edge.
We cannot name one absolute biggest blade across every maker. In the Swann Morton No. 4 range we sell, the maker describes the #22 as the largest of the #20, #21 and #22 curved family, and the #24 as slightly larger than the #23. Every blade in that range fits the #4 handle.
Yes, for cutting thick hide. It is the first blade we suggest for leatherwork on a #4 handle, because the long edge cuts in one stroke. For thin leather and skiving, a #10 on a #3 handle is the better fit.
No. The #23 belongs to the No. 4 fitting and fits #4 handles only. There is no #23 version for the #3 handle, so use a #10 on a #3 if that is the handle you own.