handcut

Handcut, often written as hand-cut, describes items that are cut by hand rather than by automated machinery. The term is used across multiple industries to indicate traditional craftsmanship, manual control over size and shape, and a degree of variability that may be absent in machine-made goods. It often implies a more artisanal or bespoke character.

Applications appear in food, textiles, leather, woodwork, glass, and jewelry. In cuisine, hand-cut fries or hand-cut noodles are prepared by knife rather than a fry cutter or pasta machine, yielding irregular thickness and a sense of craft. In textiles and leather, pieces cut by hand preserve irregular edges that may be refined during finishing.

In woodworking and carpentry, hand-cut joints and mortises rely on manual cutting with saws and chisels, reflecting traditional joinery. In jewelry and gemstones, hand-cut stones are shaped or faceted by hand, though most mainstream stones are cut with machines; artisan pieces may advertise hand-cut facets or faceting.

Limitations of the term include variability in size and finish and longer production times. Hand-cut may also be used as a marketing label rather than a standardized specification, so buyers may wish to assess the actual techniques and craftsmanship involved.

See also: handcrafted, artisanal, cut, manual manufacturing.