Index: source/blender/editors/mesh/mesh_intern.h
===================================================================
--- source/blender/editors/mesh/mesh_intern.h	(revision 41885)
+++ source/blender/editors/mesh/mesh_intern.h	(working copy)
@@ -199,6 +199,9 @@
 #define SUBDIV_CORNER_INNERVERT	1
 #define SUBDIV_CORNER_FAN		2
 
+/* maximum of cuts for input using the keyboard */
+#define CUTMAXIMUM 200
+
 extern EnumPropertyItem corner_type_items[];
 
 void join_triangles(EditMesh *em);
Index: source/blender/editors/mesh/loopcut.c
===================================================================
--- source/blender/editors/mesh/loopcut.c	(revision 41885)
+++ source/blender/editors/mesh/loopcut.c	(working copy)
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@
 
 	int extend;
 	int do_cut;
+	int ringcut_holdnum;
+	int ringcut_keys;
 } tringselOpData;
 
 /* modal loop selection drawing callback */
@@ -345,6 +347,8 @@
 	lcd->em= BKE_mesh_get_editmesh((Mesh *)lcd->ob->data);
 	lcd->extend = do_cut ? 0 : RNA_boolean_get(op->ptr, "extend");
 	lcd->do_cut = do_cut;
+	lcd->ringcut_holdnum = -1;
+	lcd->ringcut_keys = 0;
 	em_setup_viewcontext(C, &lcd->vc);
 
 	ED_region_tag_redraw(lcd->ar);
@@ -454,6 +458,8 @@
 		case RIGHTMOUSE: /* abort */ // XXX hardcoded
 		case ESCKEY:
 			if (event->val == KM_RELEASE) {
+				/* reset to first level numeric entry */
+				lcd->ringcut_keys = 0; 
 				/* cancel */
 				ED_region_tag_redraw(lcd->ar);
 				ED_area_headerprint(CTX_wm_area(C), NULL);
@@ -463,9 +469,95 @@
 			
 			ED_region_tag_redraw(lcd->ar);
 			break;
+		/* using the keyboard to input the number of cuts */
+		case PAD9:
+		case NINEKEY:
+		case PAD8:
+		case EIGHTKEY:
+		case PAD7:
+		case SEVENKEY:
+		case PAD6:
+		case SIXKEY:
+		case PAD5:
+		case FIVEKEY:
+		case PAD4:
+		case FOURKEY:
+		case PAD3:
+		case THREEKEY:
+		case PAD2:
+		case TWOKEY:
+		case PAD1:
+		case ONEKEY:
+		case PAD0:
+		case ZEROKEY:
+		case BACKSPACEKEY:
+			switch (event->type) {
+				case PAD9:
+				case NINEKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 9; break;
+				case PAD8:
+				case EIGHTKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 8;break;
+				case PAD7:
+				case SEVENKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 7;break;
+				case PAD6:
+				case SIXKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 6;break;
+				case PAD5:
+				case FIVEKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 5;break;
+				case PAD4:
+				case FOURKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 4;break;
+				case PAD3:
+				case THREEKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 3;break;
+				case PAD2:
+				case TWOKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 2;break;
+				case PAD1:
+				case ONEKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 1;break;
+				case PAD0:
+				case ZEROKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = 0;break;	
+				case BACKSPACEKEY:
+					lcd->ringcut_holdnum = -2;break; /* -2 used to identify backspace during logic */	
+			}
+			if (event->val == KM_PRESS) {
+				if(lcd->ringcut_holdnum >= 0){
+					if(lcd->ringcut_keys == 0){ /* first level numeric entry */
+						if(lcd->ringcut_holdnum > 0){
+							cuts = lcd->ringcut_holdnum;
+							lcd->ringcut_keys++;		
+						}
+					} else if(lcd->ringcut_keys > 0 && cuts*10 <= CUTMAXIMUM){ /* higher level numeric entry */
+						cuts *= 10;
+						cuts += lcd->ringcut_holdnum;
+						lcd->ringcut_keys++;		
+					}
+				} else if (lcd->ringcut_holdnum == -2){ /* backspace */
+					if (lcd->ringcut_keys > 1){
+						cuts /= 10;		
+						lcd->ringcut_keys--;
+					} else {
+						cuts=1;
+						lcd->ringcut_keys = 0;
+					}
+				}
+				
+				RNA_int_set(op->ptr, "number_cuts",cuts);
+				ringsel_find_edge(lcd, cuts);
+				
+				ED_region_tag_redraw(lcd->ar);
+			}
+			break;
 		case WHEELUPMOUSE:  /* change number of cuts */
 		case PAGEUPKEY:
+		case PADPLUSKEY:
 			if (event->val == KM_PRESS) {
+				lcd->ringcut_keys = 0; /* reset to first level numeric entry */
 				cuts++;
 				RNA_int_set(op->ptr, "number_cuts",cuts);
 				ringsel_find_edge(lcd, cuts);
@@ -475,7 +567,9 @@
 			break;
 		case WHEELDOWNMOUSE:  /* change number of cuts */
 		case PAGEDOWNKEY:
+		case PADMINUS:
 			if (event->val == KM_PRESS) {
+				lcd->ringcut_keys = 0; /* reset to first level numeric entry */
 				cuts=MAX2(cuts-1,1);
 				RNA_int_set(op->ptr,"number_cuts",cuts);
 				ringsel_find_edge(lcd, cuts);
Index: source/blender/editors/mesh/editmesh_loop.c
===================================================================
--- source/blender/editors/mesh/editmesh_loop.c	(revision 41885)
+++ source/blender/editors/mesh/editmesh_loop.c	(working copy)
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@
 					case BACKSPACEKEY:
 						holdnum = -2;break;			
 				}
-				if(holdnum >= 0 && numcuts*10 < 130){
+				if(holdnum >= 0 && numcuts*10 < CUTMAXIMUM){
 					if(keys == 0){  // first level numeric entry
 							if(holdnum > 0){
 									numcuts = holdnum;