How to Read a Mower Blade Part Number

A mower blade part number is read in three parts: a brand or series prefix that points to the original equipment line, a body of digits that fixes the blade's length and profile, and a suffix that marks the blade type. Decode those three parts and you can confirm a fit without guessing.

Why does a blade part number matter?

A blade part number matters because it compresses five measurements into one string that a supplier can match instantly. The number selects the candidate blade; the stamped digits remove the guesswork that a photo alone leaves behind. With the number in hand, a cross-reference is faster and safer than measuring.

Most North American decks carry a number stamped near the centre hole, so that is the first place to look. The number often follows the original equipment maker's own scheme, which is why the same physical blade can appear under several labels. Our OEM matching guide walks through turning a worn stamping into a confirmed fit.

What does the prefix of a blade number tell you?

The prefix of a blade number tells you the original equipment series or brand family, because manufacturers group their blades by the machine line they were made for. A "GX" prefix points to one maker's rider range, while a "942" or "742" prefix belongs to another's contractor line. The prefix is the brand clue, not the fit itself.

Prefix example	Points to	What it is not
GX / AM	John Deere rider and walk-behind lines	The deck size by itself
942 / 742	AYP-family contractor blades	A single machine model
038 / 131	Commercial zero-turn lines	The blade type

These prefixes narrow the search to a family, so the digits that follow then fix the exact profile. We hold stock shapes for the catalogue of part numbers we cut most often.

What do the middle digits of a blade number fix?

The middle digits of a blade number fix the physical profile — primarily the overall length, the centre-hole pattern and the lift style of the blade. Those digits are the part that actually has to match your deck, not the label on the box. The profile, not the brand, is what decides whether the blade seats and cuts.

Because the same digits appear across several badge brands, the middle of the number is where cross-referencing happens. A 942-04053c high-lift blade and a 942-0741a mulching blade share the family prefix but differ in the digits that set their width and lift. When the stamping is worn, the four measured facts — length, centre hole, thickness and lift — still confirm the profile.

What does the suffix of a blade number mean?

The suffix of a blade number means the blade type or revision, because makers add letters to separate a mulching profile from a high-lift one even when the base number is the same. A "-03" or a "high-lift" tag names the cut style, while a letter revision marks a later tooling change. The suffix is the detail that picks the right blade within a family.

Ignoring the suffix is a common cause of a wrong order: two blades with the same base number but different suffixes cut and discharge differently. The 106-2247-03 medium-lift blade shows how a small suffix change marks a distinct profile. Always carry the suffix when you write the number down.

How do you read a number when the stamping is worn?

Read a worn number by pairing the visible digits with four measured facts — length, centre-hole type, thickness and lift — because the stamping alone may be illegible. The measurements confirm the profile the partial digits suggest, so a supplier can still name the right blade. A photo of the old blade plus those four facts is usually enough.

Our blade measuring guide shows exactly what to record, and the model index lists deck size, centre hole, thickness and replacement numbers for each profile. Send the number or a photo and we will confirm fitment before any cutting begins.

What steel and hardness should a replacement blade use?

A replacement blade should be cut from 40Mn manganese steel and hardened to a 45–50 HRC band, which holds the edge through grit yet resists cracking on hidden stone. That balance, not a single high number, is what keeps a deck blade working through a long season of real mowing load.

We run production in Guangde, Anhui, where the plant has made blades since 2008 and now employs more than 800 people with a daily capacity of 50,000 pieces. The same heat-treat control that decides working life is detailed on our quality page, which is the part of production that most affects on-deck performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are your blades original equipment parts?

We are an independent manufacturer and not an authorised dealer for any brand, so our blades are not original factory parts. They are made to match the original specifications of the part number you send, cut from 40Mn steel and held in the 45–50 HRC band we run across the catalogue.

Can one part number fit several brands?

One part number can fit several badge brands, because the same contractor line supplies decks sold under different labels. That is why the middle digits matter more than the box: the profile, not the brand, decides the fit.

What if I only have part of the number?

If you only have part of the number, send the visible digits plus length, centre-hole type, thickness and lift. Those four measurements let a supplier confirm the profile the partial digits suggest, so a worn or partial stamping does not block the order.

How do I avoid ordering the wrong blade?

Avoid ordering the wrong blade by writing down the full number including the suffix, and by confirming the deck width and centre-hole type. The suffix marks the blade style, and the centre hole decides whether the blade mounts at all.

What is the minimum order for custom blades?

The minimum order is 300 pieces per blade profile, which covers the setup and heat-treat run for a made-to-sample blade. Custom steel such as SK5 can be quoted, and mixed profiles can be combined across a single production window to reach the minimum.