Gigli saw and small bone saw, circa 1860. A Gigli saw is a flexible wire or chain saw used by surgeons for cutting through bone. It was designed by Italian surgeon and obstetrician Leonardo Gigli to be used in an operation called a pubiotomy, performed to assist in obstructed labour. It is now used mainly for cutting the skull bones and for amputations, where the bones have to be smoothly cut. The small bone saw, with pistol grip, was used in the amputation of fingers. Both saws are of English origin.