diff --git a/Content.Server/Kitchen/EntitySystems/SharpSystem.cs b/Content.Server/Kitchen/EntitySystems/SharpSystem.cs
index 99ea516f74..67a04d9601 100644
--- a/Content.Server/Kitchen/EntitySystems/SharpSystem.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/Kitchen/EntitySystems/SharpSystem.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ using Content.Shared.Storage;
 using Content.Shared.Verbs;
 using Content.Shared.Destructible;
 using Content.Shared.DoAfter;
+using Content.Shared.Hands.Components;
 using Content.Shared.Kitchen;
 using Content.Shared.Mobs.Components;
 using Content.Shared.Mobs.Systems;
@@ -72,12 +73,17 @@ public sealed class SharpSystem : EntitySystem
         if (!sharp.Butchering.Add(target))
             return false;
 
+        // if the user isn't the entity with the sharp component,
+        // they will need to be holding something with their hands, so we set needHand to true
+        // so that the doafter can be interrupted if they drop the item in their hands
+        var needHand = user != knife;
+
         var doAfter =
             new DoAfterArgs(EntityManager, user, sharp.ButcherDelayModifier * butcher.ButcherDelay, new SharpDoAfterEvent(), knife, target: target, used: knife)
             {
                 BreakOnDamage = true,
                 BreakOnMove = true,
-                NeedHand = true,
+                NeedHand = needHand,
             };
         _doAfterSystem.TryStartDoAfter(doAfter);
         return true;
@@ -136,13 +142,20 @@ public sealed class SharpSystem : EntitySystem
 
     private void OnGetInteractionVerbs(EntityUid uid, ButcherableComponent component, GetVerbsEvent<InteractionVerb> args)
     {
-        if (component.Type != ButcheringType.Knife || args.Hands == null || !args.CanAccess || !args.CanInteract)
+        if (component.Type != ButcheringType.Knife || !args.CanAccess || !args.CanInteract)
             return;
 
-        bool disabled = false;
+        // if the user has no hands, don't show them the verb if they have no SharpComponent either
+        if (!TryComp<SharpComponent>(args.User, out var userSharpComp) && args.Hands == null)
+            return;
+
+        var disabled = false;
         string? message = null;
 
-        if (!HasComp<SharpComponent>(args.Using))
+        // if the user has hands
+        // and the item they're holding doesn't have the SharpComponent
+        // disable the verb
+        if (!TryComp<SharpComponent>(args.Using, out var usingSharpComp) && args.Hands != null)
         {
             disabled = true;
             message = Loc.GetString("butcherable-need-knife",
@@ -150,9 +163,9 @@ public sealed class SharpSystem : EntitySystem
         }
         else if (_containerSystem.IsEntityInContainer(uid))
         {
+            disabled = true;
             message = Loc.GetString("butcherable-not-in-container",
                 ("target", uid));
-            disabled = true;
         }
         else if (TryComp<MobStateComponent>(uid, out var state) && !_mobStateSystem.IsDead(uid, state))
         {
@@ -160,12 +173,20 @@ public sealed class SharpSystem : EntitySystem
             message = Loc.GetString("butcherable-mob-isnt-dead");
         }
 
+        // set the object doing the butchering to the item in the user's hands or to the user themselves
+        // if either has the SharpComponent
+        EntityUid sharpObject = default;
+        if (usingSharpComp != null)
+            sharpObject = args.Using!.Value;
+        else if (userSharpComp != null)
+            sharpObject = args.User;
+
         InteractionVerb verb = new()
         {
             Act = () =>
             {
                 if (!disabled)
-                    TryStartButcherDoafter(args.Using!.Value, args.Target, args.User);
+                    TryStartButcherDoafter(sharpObject, args.Target, args.User);
             },
             Message = message,
             Disabled = disabled,
diff --git a/Resources/Prototypes/Entities/Mobs/NPCs/regalrat.yml b/Resources/Prototypes/Entities/Mobs/NPCs/regalrat.yml
index f62d8011d9..19bf16a94c 100644
--- a/Resources/Prototypes/Entities/Mobs/NPCs/regalrat.yml
+++ b/Resources/Prototypes/Entities/Mobs/NPCs/regalrat.yml
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@
   - type: Grammar
     attributes:
       gender: male
+  - type: Sharp
 
 - type: entity
   id: MobRatKingBuff