Abstract: An improved utility knife has a blade housing, a handle region, and an end cap. The end cap is removably attached to the handle region. The handle region is cylindrical, with a slight taper and includes an interior storage chamber. The blade housing has a blade channel for permitting retraction and extension of the blade. Clench plates hold the blade securely within the blade channel and are slidable within it. An axis of the blade-holding portion of the knife is tilted relative to the axis of the gripping portion.