Abstract: A retractable blade knife includes a body, a handle lever and a blade holder assembly. The blade holder assembly is mounted to the distal end of the body to pivot between a retracted position in which a cutting edge is concealed within the body and an extended position in which a cutting edge is exposed. The handle lever is mounted to the body at a pivot joint that is located between the opposite ends of both the lever member and the body so that the handle lever can pivot between an open position and a closed position. A pin at the distal end of the handle lever is received for sliding movement by a slot in the blade holder assembly so that when the handle lever is urged from the open position to the closed position, the blade holder assembly rotates from the retracted position to the extended position.