Abstract: The present invention is a hand held utility knife for cutting and trimming materials such as carpet, vinyl, wallpaper and the like. The utility knife comprises a knife body adapted for grasping in a single hand and at least one knife blade mounted proximate a guide end in the knife body and having a cutting direction axis. The guide end includes at least one guide cheek defining a planar surface disposed at an angle theta relative to the knife blade such that the guide cheek is adapted to slidably engage and move parallel along an adjacent planar surface thereby ensuring that the blade cuts material at a uniform and preselected angle. The guide cheek ensures the knife cuts in a uniform angular relationship relative to an adjacent planar surface such that the guide minimizes rotation of the knife body about the cutting direction axis.