Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes first and second subassemblies. The first subassembly has a first handle and a blade connected to the first handle, the blade including a proximal end portion attached to the handle, a distal end portion, and a cutting edge intermediate the proximal and distal end portions. The second subassembly has a second handle and an anvil with a knife-opposing surface. The first and second subassemblies are adapted to be manually assembled pivotally together to form a blade-and-anvil cutters and to be manually unsnapped to enable independent use of the first subassembly as a knife. The action of a user squeezing the first and second handles toward each other causes the knife-opposing surface of the anvil and the cutting edge of the blade to move toward each other in order to cut an object positioned intermediate the knife-opposing surface and the cutting edge.

Abstract: A convertible knife assembly includes a knife and a conversion piece. The knife includes a blade with a handle end portion, a tip, a cutting edge intermediate the handle end an the tip, and a spine opposite the cutting edge. The conversion piece has a spine-opposing portion and a handle portion such that the conversion piece is adapted to be mounted on the knife pivotally with the spine-opposing portion opposing the spine of the blade and the handle portion opposing the handle of the knife. The action of a user squeezing the handle portion of the conversion piece and handle of the knife toward each other causes the spine-opposing portion of the conversion piece and the spine of the blade to move toward each other in order to bear against an object the user positions between the spine-opposing portion of the conversion piece and the spine of the blade.

Abstract: A convertible knife assembly includes a knife and a conversion piece. The knife includes a blade with a handle end portion, a tip, a cutting edge intermediate the handle end an the tip, and a spine opposite the cutting edge. The conversion piece has a spine-opposing portion and a handle portion such that the conversion piece is adapted to be mounted on the knife pivotally with the spine-opposing portion opposing the spine of the blade and the handle portion opposing the handle of the knife. The action of a user squeezing the handle portion of the conversion piece and handle of the knife toward each other causes the spine-opposing portion of the conversion piece and the spine of the blade to move toward each other in order to bear against an object the user positions between the spine-opposing portion of the conversion piece and the spine of the blade.