A blade quality monitor for use with cutter reels having specifically identifiable blades utilize a sensor to detect the position of a physical anomaly on the reel. Additional sensors sense the force at the interface between the cutter reel, the material wrapped thereon and the associated pressure roller. The position of the physical anomaly is correlated with the sensed force to determine the magnitude thereof at each blade which is indicative of the condition of the blade with respect to sharpness or intactness.