Sabre Saws
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Communication & Entertainment · CPSC Code 864
Down 26% over 5 years
The verdict
Sabre Saws carry a danger score of 29/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 894 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 26% over the last five years.
- 29/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 894
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 2.4%
- end in hospital admission
- 55-64
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 864 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 29/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for sabre saws - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume894 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)2.4%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-26%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Sabre Saws (CPSC product code 864, in the Home Communication & Entertainment category) generate an estimated 894 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 17,871 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 29/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 26% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2013 (1,858 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2005 (31 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for sabre saws is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 6,841 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by foreign body to the eyeball (1,847 cases). The 55-64 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 3,321 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 2.4% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 5 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how sabre saws fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-14 | 167 | 76 | |
| 15-24 | 1,707 | 150 | |
| 25-34 | 3,007 | 56 | |
| 35-44 | 2,576 | 292 | |
| 45-54 | 2,698 | 16 | |
| 55-64 | 3,163 | 158 | |
| 65-74 | 2,850 | 224 | |
| 75+ | 543 | 185 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Eyeball | Foreign Body | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Lower Leg | Laceration | |
| Lower Arm | Laceration | |
| Eyeball | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Finger | Fracture | |
| Upper Leg | Laceration | |
| Foot | Laceration | |
| Wrist | Laceration | |
| Wrist | Strain, Sprain | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Hand | Fracture | |
| Finger | Crushing | |
| Finger | Contusions, Abr. |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
63 YOM INJ LT INDEX FINGER USING A RECIPROCATING SAW AT HOME DX LAC LT INDEX FINGER
55YOM WAS CUTTING A 2X4 WITH A *** WHEN IT BOUNCED OFF THE WOOD AND LACERATED HIS RIGHT THIGH. DX: LACERATION THIGH WITHOUT FOREIGN BODY INITIAL RIGHT
73YOM WAS USING A RECIPROCATING SAW AND ACCIDENTALLY CUT HIS LEFT HAND. PT IS ON ***. DX: LACERATION LEFT HAND WITHOUT FOREIGN BODY
65YOM USING A *** TO CUT CABINETS AND CUT FINGER. DX: FINGER LACERATION
64YOM FOR EVAL OF INJURY TO LEFT THUMB. PT ACCIDENTALLY CUT HIS THUMB WITH A *** WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE AT HOME. DX: OPEN FRACTURE OF THUMB;LACERATION OF THUMB WITH DAMAGE TO NAIL
48YOM ACCIDENTALLY CUT HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER WITH A RECIPROCATING SAW 3 HOURS AGO. DX: LACERATION WITHOUT FOREIGN BODY RIGHT INDEX FINGER WITHOUT DAMAGE TO NAIL
79 YOM-WAS WEARING BOOTS WHEN THE *** HE WAS USING SLIPPED & CUT HIS FOOT DX: FOOT LACERATION
62 YOM WAS USING A RECIPROCATING SAW WHEN IT FELL ONTO HIS FOOT. DX: LACERATION OF FLEXOR TENDON OF RIGHT HAND, OPEN DISPLACED FRACTURE OF SHAFT OF METACARPAL BONE.
30YOM PATIENT WAS CUTTING METAL YESTERDAY USING A *** REPORTS EYE PAIN DX: CORNEAL ABRASION, LEFT EYE FOREIGN BODY
41 YOM WAS CUTTING ALUMINUM WITH A *** AND SUSTAINED FOREIGN BODY TO LEFT EYE. DX: NO DX, LEFT WITHOUT BEING SEEN.
66 YOM WAS USING A ***WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE COLLAR. DX: SUBUNGUAL HEMATOMA DIGIT OF HAND
64YOM TO ER FOR LACERATION OF LEFT HAND, PT WAS USING A SABRE SAW AT HIS EX WIFES HOUSE AT 2PM & SUFFERED ACCIDENTAL LACERATION TO LEFT HAND, TETNUS UPADATED, PT WENT TO UC FIRST & THEY SENT PT TO ER DX LACERATION OF LEFT PALM OF HAND ,
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
This power tool has no safety switch. Also the way to hold the product does not provide a trustworthy way to keep held where the blade won't hurt an operator There were no injuries but only because I caught it almost happen Tool Shop 6-Amp Corded Reciprocating Saw Model Number: MRS600SE Menards SKU: 2419865
Reciprocating saw has a failure, power does not disable after the safety button is released. Caller stated that she could not get the power to turn off when she took her hand off the trigger. The saw kept running and was extremely dangerous. Caller stated that the saw is a replacement (62370) for the original (65570) which had a failure in not working. Caller stated that she informed the store managers about the issue she was having but they were unwilling to assist her in replacing it or refunding it. Caller feels that this saw is unsafe and should be recalled.
My left index finger was crushed by DeWalt DCS369 reciprocating saw while cutting 2x4. Fingers were nearly crushed several times before and after this incident. Blade release tab on reciprocating piston crushed finger against saw body. Tab is unguarded and located adjacent to area used to leverage cut. I have photos that better explain. I contacted DeWalt 18 Nov 21 and was told I would be contacted. I am still awaiting contact. [REDACTED]
The 10Amp Bauer 1975E-B Reciprocating Saw is extremely dangerous, and based on my most recent personal experience I believe that the position of the large, protruding, auto-lock button right next to the trigger has the potential to be a deadly design flaw. No other brands of [REDACTED]s that I had seen put a lock button next to the trigger that can easily be pressed accidentally and unknowingly with only the palm of your hand. In fact, not even all of the models of Harbor Freight reciprocating saws are designed this way. After further research, I only found the [REDACTED] to have a similar large button and placement. Many saws do not even have this auto-lock button, and the ones that do have one, have it as a small button (half the size or smaller than the button Bauer model 1975E-B) placed above the triggercompletely out of the way of the natural hand placement for holding the saw. has the potential to be a deadly design flaw. No other brands of [REDACTED]s that I had seen put a lock button next to the trigger that can easily be pressed accidentally and unknowingly with only the palm of your hand. In fact, not even all of the models of Harbor Freight reciprocating saws are designed this way. After further research, I only found the [REDACTED] to have a similar large button and placement. Many saws do not even have this auto-lock button, and the ones that do have one, have it as a small button (half the size or smaller than the button Bauer model 1975E-B) placed above the triggercompletely out of the way of the natural hand placement for holding the saw. Despite working with power tools from a young age, I have never had any injury that required a visit to the hospital even through decades of working with various power tools. That changed on the afternoon of October 6, 2023, because I had a terrifying experience that I hope no one else will ever have to face that was caused by this dangerous auto-lock feature. I was using the 10Amp Bauer reciproc
A battery-powered reciprocating saw spontaneously combusted and caught fire in the basement of the single-family residence. Product: Flex Model # FX2271-C. Purchased at Lowes on 3/20/2023. Not in use or plugged in at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported. Date of the fire 11/12/2023
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to sabre saws on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are sabre saws?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, sabre saws have a danger score of 29/100 (low risk). An estimated 894 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from sabre saws?
The most common injury is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 6,841 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from sabre saws increasing or decreasing?
Down 26% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for sabre saws injuries?
The 55-64 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 3,321 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by sabre saws?
Of all ER visits involving sabre saws, approximately 2.4% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (97.6%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with sabre saws?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Home Communication & Entertainment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 29/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 55-64 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
