A sub-assembly for a blade for a papermaking machine, the blade having a base adapted to receive a plurality of sub-assemblies, the base having an upper surface, a machine-contacting lower surface and two lateral edges, characterized in that the sub-assembly has first and second lateral edges and comprises (i) a holder securable to the upper surface of the base and comprising first and second side surfaces having compatibly inverse configurations in relation to each other; and (ii) a plurality of segments, preferably constructed of a ceramic material, each of the segments having a fabric-contacting upper surface, a holder-contacting lower surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge, and first and second side surfaces each having a preselected profile, wherein (a) for each segment, in a direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the profile of each first side surface has a compatibly inverse configuration in relation to the profile of each second side surface of an adjacent one of the plurality of segments; (b) the holder is constructed and arranged to receive and securely retain the segments in an abutting relationship of the respective side surfaces of adjacent segments; (c) the plurality of sub-assemblies is adapted to be assembled in the blade, such that exposed outer side surfaces of first and last segments in adjacent sub-assemblies are retained in an abutting relationship; and (d) the sub-assemblies are constructed and arranged to be secured to the base in an aligned abutting relationship, and securely retained therein by a retaining means. (i) a holder securable to the upper surface of the base and comprising first and second side surfaces having compatibly inverse configurations in relation to each other; and (ii) a plurality of segments, preferably constructed of a ceramic material, each of the segments having a fabric-contacting upper surface, a holder-contacting lower surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge, and first and second side surfaces each having a preselected profile, wherein (a) for each segment, in a direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the profile of each first side surface has a compatibly inverse configuration in relation to the profile of each second side surface of an adjacent one of the plurality of segments; (b) the holder is constructed and arranged to receive and securely retain the segments in an abutting relationship of the respective side surfaces of adjacent segments; (c) the plurality of sub-assemblies is adapted to be assembled in the blade, such that exposed outer side surfaces of first and last segments in adjacent sub-assemblies are retained in an abutting relationship; and (d) the sub-assemblies are constructed and arranged to be secured to the base in an aligned abutting relationship, and securely retained therein by a retaining means. (a) for each segment, in a direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the profile of each first side surface has a compatibly inverse configuration in relation to the profile of each second side surface of an adjacent one of the plurality of segments; (b) the holder is constructed and arranged to receive and securely retain the segments in an abutting relationship of the respective side surfaces of adjacent segments; (c) the plurality of sub-assemblies is adapted to be assembled in the blade, such that exposed outer side surfaces of first and last segments in adjacent sub-assemblies are retained in an abutting relationship; and (d) the sub-assemblies are constructed and arranged to be secured to the base in an aligned abutting relationship, and securely retained therein by a retaining means.