Abstract: A knife including a detachable blade which is readily released from the knife handle with a locking mechanism including a spring biased pivotally mounted locking plate formed with a locking tab mating with a recess in a knife blade tang.To assemble the blade to the handle the tang is inserted into a knife handle socket and the locking plate tab moved into locking engagement with the tang. Depression of the locking plate rearend enables quick release for replacement or removal of the knife blade. A series of angled shoulders formed on the knife blade and the tang cooperate with corresponding angled surfaces on the handle components provide great rigidity of the blade in the handle.