This presentation examines the instruments and intentions that influenced the surgical profession’s shifting views on how and why to ‘cut’ into the living body. Surgeons debated blade edges and length, operator speed and precision, and more. Liston’s amputation knife, Physick’s tonsil guillotine, Gigli’s chain saw, Galt’s trephine, and Hey’s saw are some of the eponymous instruments that will be discussed.