Swann Morton No3 Scalpel Handle - Stainless Steel - Number 3 by Swann Morton

No3 blade handle, probably the most famous ever? Easy to hold, even with hands like hams! Blade change is quick and easy. Sized to (obviously) fit standard surgical blades.

I use a lot of scalpel blades in my various modelling and craft projects that I do for leisure. I have favoured larger blades in a number 4 handle but for some more intricate work I have my smaller blades that need the number 3 handle. The advantage of this is that I can make smaller cuts to my fingers..... er, I mean the craft materials I am working with. Yeah, not fingers. I may have cut myself once or twice over the years.Basically you will need to check the blades that you're using are compatible with these handles, being Swann Morton they are designed for their blade range and are excellent quality. I always have a ready supply of blades and a couple of handles.Like other Swann Morton handles these have a small scale on them so you can measure the length of the cuts you make without having to reach for a separate measuring device, a nice feature even if you don't use it that often. On a more serious note, if you are concerned about cuts from the exposed blades, either for yourself, or if you have inquisitive pets or children then blade covers are available too, I tend to push my blades into a block of dense foam when not in use to stop the cuts, that and try to be more careful.

Does the job, I've used these for years

Just brilliant at what it does. Another one of those classic designs that is a classic for a reason. It holds a very sharp blade and glides in the hand. If you you want to cut something and it’s not too deep then this is the very tool.

This is to replace my old No. 3 handle which no longer grips blades as securely as it should: it has taken something like 15 years of frequent use to get to this stage and owes me absolutely nothing. The new handle feels very much the same and retains the blade properly, and that's all that really matters.The most noticeable difference between the two is the addition of short metric scale on the new version, which just looks like "added value" to me. I really can't conceive of any use for it. I thought I'd hate that, but as it turns out it's cleanly done and not nearly as irritating as expected. The branding is a bit bigger too. There's another difference though: the old handle is made from some sort of nickel silver, whereas the new one is stainless steel. It makes sense and should give a longer lifespan, but you won't get the distinctive yellowish patina. Tool obsessives like myself will regret that; normal people won't. The quality is the same, which is to say exemplary.Regarding the changing of blades: if you don't know how to do it, find out. The potential for injuring yourself is surely obvious. Swann Morton's website provides a video and a couple of pdf files which make the procedure clear.

This came in a reasonable time frame and was well packaged.Unfortunately absolutely no instructions on how to put blade and handle together.Given how sharp these blades are I believe this to be an error on the part of Swann-Morton.I have never used this particular form of craft knife before and it took two mature intelligentadults and a cut finger to crack it.Once it was useable it was very impressive and cut through my card making card stocklike the proverbial hot knife through butter.Had there been any instructions at all this would have received 5 stars easily.I would recommend it, but only if no other knife will do. It is great at what it does but Idon't believe that it is designed well in terms of attaching blade and handle

I purchased this scalpel because I lost my old one in college and needed a new one quickly. It arrived nice and quickly (luckily on the same day as the blades that I ordered too).I can see why they recommend using this scalpel in my college course. It's very sturdy and solid. It won't bend or flex and just does the job. I use it to make light work of any straight-line cutting jobs - once you begin using it, you'll wonder how you ever coped with scissors.The circular grippy cutouts on both sides of the scalpel help you retain good control over the blade and the ruler on the handle can come in handy for certain applications.I find that I have to use pliers to pull blunt blades off the handle when they need replacing. But I see this as quite a positive thing. After all, I want the blade to be held on the handle firmly - the last thing I want is the blade to ping off whilst I'm using it. So I don't mind needing to get the pliers out the replace the blades.All-in-all, this scalpel handle is great and I was lost without it for the couple of days I was waiting for it to arrive.

I just can not believe the quality or the price of this Swann-Morton handle or the no. 10 blades that I purchaced. Started making model planes again, but have been disappointed with the blades/knifes available locally.Remembered Swann-Morton from when building model planes in the distant past, so checked out on Amazon. Certainly these are the best I've used and the price & delivery from the seller is great :)