A bread lame is a handle that holds a thin razor blade for slashing the top of a loaf before baking. The cut lets the dough open in a controlled way in the oven. Lames differ by handle material, how the blade is held and how many spare blades come in the box.

The six tools below range from a wood-handled lame with a leather cover to an all-stainless 2-in-1 tool. Materials and contents come from each product’s listing page. We have not used these tools ourselves. Warranty and quality claims are the makers’ own. Razor blades are sharp, so handle them with care.

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What to Look For

Feature Why it matters
Handle Wood, beech or plastic changes grip and cleaning
Blade holder Magnetic, thumb screw or a fixed stick
Spare blades More blades mean fewer replacement orders
Storage A cover or case protects the blade and your hands

Specs at a Glance

Lame Handle Blades Notes
SAINT GERMAIN Wood, with a stainless steel stick 10 included Leather cover; blades are standard razor blades
RICCLE Wood 15 blades Magnetic holder; storage cover
Orblue Kingly wood 12 blades Forged stainless steel blades
KneadAce Polypropylene 5 razor blades Sliding knob; magnetic holder; patterns booklet
Baker of Seville Stainless steel Double-edge blade Curved or straight blade; thumb screw; hard case
Superbaking Beechwood, 100 mm 5 extra blades 304 stainless steel blade holder

The 6 Best Bread Lames

1. SAINT GERMAIN Bread Lame with 10 Blades

A hand crafted wood handle with a stainless steel stick that holds standard razor blades. Ten blades come in the box, along with a hand-made leather protective cover. The maker says replacement blades are covered by a lifetime warranty.

Suits: a traditional wood lame. Strengths: ten blades and a leather cover. Weaknesses: the warranty terms are the maker’s own. Skip it if you want a magnetic holder.

View SAINT GERMAIN Premium Hand Crafted Bread Lame for Dough Scoring Knife, Lame Bread Tool for Sourdough Bread Slashing with 10 Blades Included with Replacement with Authentic Leather Protector Cover on Amazon

2. RICCLE Bread Lame with 15 Blades

A wood-handled lame sold with 15 blades and a storage cover. The listing describes a magnetic holder that keeps the blade in place.

Suits: a high blade count. Strengths: fifteen blades and a storage cover. Weaknesses: the listing text is loosely worded. Skip it if you only need a few blades.

View Bread Lame, Sourdough Scoring Tool, 15 Blades with Storage Cover on Amazon

3. Orblue Bread Lame with 12 Blades

A lame with a Kingly Wood handle and 12 forged stainless steel blades. The listing says the handle is smooth and meant to keep cuts steady.

Suits: a wood handle with plenty of blades. Strengths: twelve blades. Weaknesses: the listing gives no blade holder detail. Skip it if you want a retractable tool.

View Orblue Bread Lame, Dough Scoring Tool with 12 Blades on Amazon

4. KneadAce Extractable and Magnetic Bread Lame

A polypropylene handle with a sliding knob that extends and retracts a magnetically held blade. It comes with five razor blades and a scoring patterns booklet, and it can be stored on a metal surface.

Suits: a retractable blade. Strengths: a sliding knob and a patterns booklet. Weaknesses: a plastic handle. Skip it if you want wood.

View KneadAce Upgraded Extractable and Magnetic Bread Lame Dough Scoring Tool – Professional Sourdough scoring tool for Sourdough Bread baking and Bread Making Tools – Scoring Patterns booklet and 5 Razor Blades on Amazon

5. Baker of Seville 2-in-1 Stainless Bread Lame

An all stainless steel lame that the maker says converts from a curved blade to a straight blade. A thumb screw holds the double-edge blade, and a hard-shell case is included. The listing calls it dishwasher safe.

Suits: a curved or straight cut from one tool. Strengths: an all-steel build and a case. Weaknesses: the listing lists one blade type. Skip it if you want a wood handle.

View Bread Lame – Patented 2-in-1 Stainless Scoring Tool on Amazon

6. Superbaking Bread Lame with Beech Handle

A 100 mm beechwood handle with a 304 stainless steel blade holder and five extra blades. The listing describes the wood as easy to wipe clean.

Suits: a classic wood handle. Strengths: a beech handle and a steel holder. Weaknesses: only five extra blades. Skip it if you want a retractable tool.

View Superbaking Bread Lame with 5 Extra Blades, Classic Ergonomic Wooden Handle on Amazon

Care and Setup

  • Handle blades by the flat sides and keep fingers off the edge.
  • Wipe wood handles with a dry or barely damp cloth.
  • Cover the blade when you put the lame away.
  • Replace dull blades rather than pressing harder.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Cutting with a dull blade that drags the dough.
  • Storing the lame without its cover or case.
  • Soaking a wood handle in water.
  • Buying a lame with a holder you cannot tighten.

Bread Lame FAQ

Do lames come with blades?

Yes. The six here include from 5 to 15 blades, apart from the Baker of Seville, which lists one double-edge blade.

Can a kitchen knife do the same job?

Some bakers use one, but a lame holds a thin blade at a shallow angle. See our bread knife guide.

The Short Version

For a leather cover, the SAINT GERMAIN. For fifteen blades, the RICCLE. For twelve blades, the Orblue. For a retractable blade, the KneadAce. For an all-steel tool, the Baker of Seville. For a beech handle, the Superbaking.