Abstract: A surgical blade holder characterized by a handle with a hollow head portion at an obtuse angle with the longitudinal axis of the remainder of the handle. The head portion has a first slot for accommodating a blade-retaining ring which is attached to a shank passing through at least the hollow head portion of the handle. Apparatus is associated with the shank to provide relative motion between the hollow head portion and the blade-retaining ring to move such parts into an engaged position and into a disengaged position. The blade-retaining ring has a slot in the anterior portion thereof and the hollow head portion has at least one second slot for holding a surgical blade in a variety of extensions and angles relative to the handle when the blade-retaining ring and hollow head portion are in the engaged position.