Abstract: A letter opening device, having a letter opening blade for opening envelopes which is molded partially within a plastics molded body suitable for being hand held and for cutting open envelopes is provided with a generally rectangular recess in the body of a size to receive a business card, or the like, therein for display laterally for the body. Card retaining tabs are molded integrally of the body to retain the business card within the recess and a transparent flexible window member is provided for overlying the card in the recess. End tabs are formed integrally of the window member which cooperate with slots formed in the body to maintain the window member in assembled relation to the letter opener device in overlying relation to the business card being displayed by the letter opener device.

Abstract: A simple, compact and easily useable cutting device for cutting non-metallic straps, wherein a hand held plastic frame is provided with a metallic sharpened blad held in a substantially vertical position in one embodiment and in a substantially horizontal position in another embodiment, with the frame having a lower leg for holding the strap looped thereabout and held by a vertical protrusion, and wherein horizontal movement device while holding the looped strap securely the one embodiment blade cuts the strap through the edge thereof, and wherein by rotating the device while securely holding the looped strap, the other embodiment blade cuts the strap through the edtge first and then through the bottom width of the strap.

Abstract: A carpet trimming tool precisely trims the edge of a carpet to fit against a carpet divider of the type having a linear channel upstanding from the edge of a thin flat flange fastened to the floor. The tool has a hand grip extending upward from a rigid base. Two elongate, straight parallel spaced apart legs extend downward from the base. A first leg has a foot adapted to slide on the carpet. The second leg has a foot adapted to slide in the channel. A carpet cutting blade is removably and adjustably mounted on the second leg so as to cut through the carpet a preset distance from the channel as tool is advanced, guided by the foot in the channel.

Abstract: A knife for cutting a fold in paper, especially designed for opening an envelope. At least one end of the knife has two adjacent body walls (6) with a blade portion (3) placed between them and guiding sections (7, 10) in the body to guide the fold while cutting. At least body walls (6) of the knife are made of transparent material or furnished with a control hole (12) to facilitate arrangement of tip (2) into a starting position for cutting.

Abstract: A new Utility Knife Adaptor which provides several embodiments of utility knife adaptors thus allowing users to safely strip away wires and cut angles in wood. The inventive device includes a cover.

Abstract: A girdling tool including a runner which glides along the periphery of a part of a tree; and a knife which girdles the part of the tree, the knife and the runner being angularly spaced from each other so as to define a space for positioning therein the part of the tree, wherein rotation of the runner about the knife changes the size of the space for positioning therein the part of the tree.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body member which has a pair of guide surfaces. A blade projects from a first of the guide surfaces and the cutting edge of the blade forms an acute angle with the first guide surface. The plane of the blade forms an acute angle with the second guide surface thereby facilitating a clean cutting action. The angle of the plane of the blade maintains contact between the guide surfaces and the carton being opened and minimizes any tendency for the carton opener to leave the cut. The body member includes a curved portion forward of the blade and a projecting wall portion which serves to position the hand of the user in the correct ergonomic position for safe and efficient operation.

Abstract: A cutting tool for piercing a sealant surrounding a vehicle windshield including a cylindrically shape body which is internally hollowed and first and second blade housing members which, upon assembly, are axially slidably mounted within a first selected end of the body and form a blade receiving cavity. A blade includes a first insertable portion with at least one aperture and a second cutting portion extending at a desired angle with respect to the insertable portion. A spring loaded tang is mounted within the second blade housing member and is upwardly biased so that an upwardly projecting button portion engages through the at least one aperture of the blade insertable portion in a first blade retaining position. An inwardly displaceable disengaging member is axially slidably mounted within a second selected end of the body and is contoured along a forward face so that it unseats the spring loaded from the blade aperture in a second blade release position.

Abstract: A manual belt skiver removes a top layer of material along an end edge of a elt in preparation for mounting a lacing thereon. The skiver has a base with a handle attached thereto, and a normally vertical contact surface adapted to slide along the end edge of the belt during use. A knife is mounted on the base, and has a thin flat blade protruding outwardly from the contact surface, with a straight interior portion and an upwardly turned outer tip. A pressure bar is mounted on the base, generally forward of the knife, and includes a foot which protrudes laterally outwardly from the contact surface, generally above the cutting edge of the blade to guide the blade through the belt.

Abstract: A belt skiving apparatus is provided having a free-standing blade-carrying carriage mounting a pair of rollers defining a nip into which a belt end to be skived is passed. The rollers press together about the belt end to securely grip the belt, with at least one of the rollers being driven, preferably manually, through a crank arm. Rotation of the rollers advances the carriage relative to the belt to advance the carriage across the width of the belt. As the carriage is advanced, the belt is passed through the rollers and through a cutting blade disposed adjacent the rollers, with the blade slicing a thin strip of the upper portion of the belt adjacent its upper face from the remainder of the belt. The rollers may be driven by a ratchet arm to move the carriage along the belt end. Preferably, two pairs of rollers are employed on the carriage, one forward and one rearward of the blade to cut the uncut portion remaining at the trailing side of the belt after the belt passes through the forward roller pair.

Abstract: A safety knife comprises a main body formed with a slot having a narrow open mouth, into which the material to be cut is inserted, and a blade mounted on the main body with a portion of its cutting edge extending across the slot at a location spaced inwardly from the mouth of the slot. The blade is mounted in a recess in the main body for sliding movement across the slot, against the action of a spring, and is coupled to a sleeve which is slidable on the main body. The user holds the knife by the sleeve so that, as the knife is used to cut material, the relative movement between the sleeve and main body causes to blade to slide across the slot, thus enhancing the cutting action.

Abstract: A new and improved wallcovering creaser and trimmer with a tool portion having a rounded periphery. A threaded projection and a pair of projections are secured to the tool portion. A handle projection is integral with the rounded periphery. A radially extending aperture is formed through the rounded periphery of the tool portion. A blade portion has a first sharp edge, a second sharp edge, a central aperture and two oblong apertures formed through the center of the blade portion. The blade portion is secured on the tool portion. The first sharp edge is positioned within the radially extending aperture of the tool portion. The second sharp edge is positioned with one end extending outwardly of the rounded periphery of the tool portion.

Abstract: An edge trimmer for removing excess edgebanding includes a retainer plate and a guide rail which assemble to hold a beveled, single-edged cutting blade. The retainer plate has a slot to accommodate and guide the excess edgebanding. In addition, the retainer plate has a recessed blade tray which receives the cutting blade and spans at least a portion of the slot. A removable fastener holds the retainer plate and guide rail together.

Abstract: A cutting device angularly and removably attached to a heat-sealed edge of a food-contained polybag. The cutting device includes two integrally molded first and second parts. The first part is so formed that it has a tongue portion with two fixing pins raised from two outer comers of the tongue portion. A razor having a slant edge is clamped in locating grooves formed on top of the two fixing pins. The second part is formed with pin holes and a razor receiving groove corresponding to the fixing pins and the clamped razor. In use the cutting device is first positioned on the heat-sealed edge by folding the first part to the second part. Depressing the tongue portion of the first part will cause the razor to cut into the razor receiving groove on the second part and the polybag. Moving the cutting device sidewardly causes the razor to cut open the heat-sealed edge of the polybag.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body member which has a pair of guide surfaces. A blade projects from a first of the guide surfaces and the cutting edge of the blade forms an acute angle with the first guide surface. The plane of the blade forms an acute angle with the second guide surface thereby facilitating a clean cutting action. The angle of the plane of the blade effectively maintains contact between the guide surfaces and the carton being opened and minimizes any tendency for the carton opener to leave the cut. The body member includes a curved portion forward of the blade and a projecting wall portion which serve to position the hand of the user in the correct ergonomic position for safe and efficient operation.

Abstract: A cutting tool for material, such as a web, sheet, slab, packaging or other material includes a dynamic guide slot in which the material is moved while it is bent by cooperative surfaces to stiffen the material and to direct the stiffened material into engagement with a blade for cutting the material. A pointed beak can pierce the material to initiate a cutting operation.

Abstract: An opener for envelopes that includes a flat member with a straight slot that defines a pointed portion to facilitate its insertion between the flap and the rest of the envelope. A bay at the end of the slot coincides with the cutout of a removable blade kit that is received within a channel that runs at an angle with respect to the straight slot. A locking protuberance and a cooperating cavity are provided to keep the blade kit in place.

Abstract: A compact, reliable and convenient drywall-sheet trimmer has opposed cutter disks (7, 8) positioned rotationally in opposing walls (3, 4) of a trimmer channel (2) having a slide bar (19) that is adjustable in positioning intermediate the opposing cutter disks and a channel bottom (21). Pinion teeth (25) on an adjustment shaft (24) are rotated by helical worm gearing (28) with an adjustment knob (30) to actuate rack teeth (26) on slide rods (22) attached to the slide bar for adjusting distance of the slide bar from the cutter disks to control widths of trimming cuts. Surfaces of drywall sheets (6) are scored or cut to cause the drywall sheets to be breakable by applying bending moment along lines of scored or cut surface material and/or indentations caused by cutting entry of the opposed cutter disks.

Abstract: A combination hand held device having an elongated central gripping portion with a razor type slitter held therein and a staple remover formed thereon. The letter slitter includes an elongated finger formed adjacent the razor type slitter along one side of the elongated central gripping portion and the staple remover is formed at one end of the elongated central gripping portion.

Abstract: A hand tool for slabbing a roll of paper, comprising an elongated carriage frame having handle means affixed thereto. The hand tool also has casters mounted on each side of the carriage frame for movably supporting the frame along an upper segment of that roll. There is also provided a blade carrier attached to the elongated frame and a cutting blade mounted in that blade carrier. During use, the cutting blade extends beneath the elongated frame, with a cutting edge thereof facing towards a forward end of the frame. The elongated frame may also comprise a pivotally lockable blade guard enclosing the cutting blade when the hand tool is lifted off a work surface, for further enhancing a safe handling of the tool.

Abstract: A single bladed cooking knife having two aligned cutting edges. An enclosure for the knife is provided in which an upper half-shell are joined and a lower half-shell joined to each other to form an enclosure for the knife; one end of the knife is coupled to the enclosure for pivoting the knife from a first position within the enclosure with one of the cutting edges positioned within the enclosure and another of the cutting edges being external of the enclosure to a second position with both of the cutting edges external of the enclosure. The knife blade is lockable, in the first and said second positions, and the knife blade is associated with a mechanism for unlocking the knife blade to move the knife blade from the first position to the second position and vice-versa.

Abstract: A slitter comprising a blade having a cutting edge; a holder with blade, including a handle, and a terminal on the handle retaining the blade with the blade edge protruding; and a shield carried by the holder proximate the terminal, for movement between extended position in which the blade is protected, and retracted position in which the blade edge is exposed for cutting, the shield having two side plates movable adjacent opposites sides of the terminal, protective structure extending between the plates to extend beyond the blade in shield extended position, and a retainer interconnecting the plates, there being a pivot interconnection between the plates and the holder, proximate the retainer.

Abstract: A hand held device for cutting through shrink-wrapped packaging surrounding a package such as a compact disc case, which will allow the user to more easily remove the compact disc case from the packaging. The hand held device includes a cutting blade sized to cut through shrink-wrapped packaging of a predetermined thickness, and a holder for guiding its movement.

Abstract: A cutting tool for sheet material such as plasterboard, plywood, plastic, masonite or metal comprising two portions which are aligned and secured by magnetic attraction, such as permanent magnets or electro-magnetic devices. Each portion includes a cutter and device for adjusting the cutting depth. Cutting is accomplished by moving one of the portions, the other portion is simultaneously moved.

Abstract: In a safety belt cutter comprising a housing to be mounted on a safety belt an operating element is provided so as to be movable across the safety belt and has an at least partially U-shaped portion having legs extending essentially parallel to the plane of the belt so as to form a belt-receiving gap wherein a cutting blade with a cutting edge is so mounted that the cutting edge of the blade extends through the gap at an angle to the plane of the belt and is exposed only within the gap of the operating element so that the safety belt is guided within the gap onto the cutting edge so as to be severed if, after an accident, the operating element is moved across the safety belt.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wrappage cutter including a holder and a cutting element disposed below and received in the holder. The cutting element includes a blade inclinedly fixed at an angle between 15 degrees and 35 degrees relative to the holder, such that when the holder is pushed forward against a paper to be cut, the paper can be easily and straight cut in a quick and safe manner.

Abstract: A seat belt cutter comprising an upper surface member, a lower surface member which is longer than the upper surface member, a gripping handle member constituted of the upper surface member and the lower surface member, a hammer member having a sharply pointed tip portion and secured to the upper surface member side of a head portion of the gripping handle member, a blade member having a serrated edge portion formed at a lengthwise central portion of the lower surface member and extending from an inner side of the open distal end portion to an internal portion thereof, and a groove portion formed in a lengthwise central portion of the upper surface member in such a manner as to be opposite the blade, the groove portion having a depth deep enough to receive the edge portion of the blade therein.

Abstract: A cutter for simultaneously severing opposed sides of a drywall panel. The inventive device includes a guide assembly for sliding along an exposed edge of a drywall panel. Support columns project from the guide assembly for positioning along respectively opposed front and rear faces of the panel. Cutting assemblies are secured to lower ends of the support columns and engage the faces of the panel to effect cutting of the panel along a line parallel to the exposed edge as the guide assembly is traversed thereover.

Abstract: A bandage cutter which includes a short, thick, relatively blunt ended finger which extends in spaced generally parallel relation along one edge of a generally flat disk-shaped handle. The finger curves to a terminal end; and the finger defines a throat between it and the handle with an open mouth. Preferably, a thickened rim is provided about the throat protectively shielding the cutting edge of a blade spanning the throat. The blade of stainless steel presents a cutting edge at a slope of about 45.degree. to the edge of a bandage. A curved rocker surface on the handle is provided to manipulate the cutter to a preferred cutting angle while a bandage is held taut for initiating a slicing action. The handle includes a bearing surface for pushing by the index finger of a user while simultaneously the handle is grasped between the thumb and middle finger, on opposite sides of the handle respectively, to orient the attitude of the cutter while slicing action takes place.

Abstract: A carpet strip cutter assembly having an elongated base plate, a vertically oriented elongated left side wall connected to the base plate, and an elongated cantilevered support arm perpendicularly oriented to the left side wall. The cantilevered support arm is reciprocally mounted in the left side wall. A blade mounting assembly is secured to the front end of the cantilevered support arm and it has a blade extending downwardly therefrom. The blade is oriented above a line of grooves in the top surface of the base plate and removably received in one of the grooves. There is structure for vertically adjusting the height of the cantilevered support arm so that various heights of carpet can be cut into strips of carpet having predetermined widths.

Abstract: An ergonomically-designed, multipurpose knife having a handle, a blade with a shank and a tip, and a fastener for attaching the handle to the shank. The blade has a curved outer edge extending substantially from the shank to the tip, with an integrally-formed gut hook positioned near the shank and opening toward the tip. A portion of the outer edge is sharpened to form a cutting edge. The fastener is user-operable for moving the blade from a first operating position where it opposes the handle to a second operating position where it extends forward of the handle for use as a hatchet. In the first position, force exerted on the handle and directed toward the blade is distributed approximately uniformly along the entire length of the outer cutting edge.

Abstract: A letter opener includes a handle portion, a depending neck portion, and oppositely extending tine portions carried by the neck portion. A cutting edge is mounted on each side of the neck portion such that either of the tine portions can be inserted under the flap of a sealed envelope and moved across the envelope to permit the respective cutting edge to slice open the envelope. Since the novel letter opener according to the invention includes two cutting edges, the useful life of the letter opener is doubled over the useful life of prior art, single cutting edge letter openers. Inasmuch as the letter opener may carry one or more informational messages, such as advertising messages, postal rate information, etc., the length of time the messages are exposed to the user is also doubled, thereby doubling the value of the letter opener to both the user as well as those employing the letter opener as a medium of communication to the user.

Abstract: A hand tool for cutting an axially extending severable web of insulating material connecting two axially elongate cables in parallel axially spaced apart relation to each other has a generally cylindrical blade holder defining a bore for receiving one of the cables therethrough. A first slot communicates with the bore to receive the severable web. A second slot communicates with the first notch and opens outwardly through the peripheral surface of the blade holder to receive the other of the cables. A blade pivotally supported on the blade holder for movement between a cutting position, wherein the blade extends across the first slot, and a retracted position wherein the blade is disposed at one side of the first slot is normally biased toward its cutting position. Insertion of one of the cables into the bore and through the blade holder causes the blade to pivot to its retracted position allowing free movement of the tool relative to the one cable.

Abstract: A package opener that can be used safely to open packages, such a jewel boxes containing compact discs, that are encapsulated within thin outer coverings. The device includes an edge guide channel into which a cutting edge extends so that the device can be guided along a selected edge of the package to precisely cut the covering to permit its easy removal from the package.

Abstract: A stock carton knife comprising an elongated handle having a pair of ends, a blade projecting from one end of the handle and having two lateral edges and an outer end, a lateral cutting notch in one of the lateral edges having a sharpened cutting edge and a laterally oriented mouth and including an inner sharp edge closer to the handle and an outer sharp edge farther away from the handle, the outer edge converging with the blade end to form a juncture with a blunt knob, the mouth being smaller in width than about one centimeter, and a diagonal guard plate on the blade along the inner edge, normal to and astraddle of the blade, with a first surface area toward the handle to protect the fingers of a user, and a second surface area toward the notch to limit depth of cut by the blade into a carton.

Abstract: A food cutting apparatus for cutting food contained in a rectangular pan, the food cutting apparatus having a plurality of food cutting blades connected to a holder for the blades, the improvement including an elongated, generally flat rectangular blade holder for holding a plurality of food cutting blades, the blade holder having two elongated parallel edges connected by two parallel ends being aligned perpendicular to the two parallel edges, the two parallel ends being shorter in length than the two elongated parallel edges, two openings therein for receipt of the fingers of the two hands of the user, a blade holding device in at least one of the two elongated edges for receiving and holding each of the plurality of food cutting blades, and indicia adjacent to at least one of the edges for positioning the cutting blades at a selected location, and two guides connected to the blade holder for slidably contacting each of the two parallel edges of the pan.

Abstract: A hand-held slitting device for slitting open a package having a sealed edge, the hand-held slitting device having an insertion slot and a pointed blade protruding into an insertion slot. The package may be inserted into the insertion slot so as to bring a surface of the package against the pointed blade, and slit open by manipulating the package and the slitting device so as to cause the pointed blade to pierce the sealed edge and to cut through the sealed edge as the package is withdrawn from the insertion slot. The slitting device comprises a main body section of a size that is convenient to be grasped by a user's thumb and fingers, an arm section extended from the body section and provided with an inwardly extending end protrusion, and a slitting blade provided with an exposed sharpened cutting edge. The slitting blade is mounted by the body section in a way such that its sharpened cutting edge is inclined forwardly to end at a tip that is disposed adjacent to the end protrusion.

Abstract: A box opener comprising a blade having a cutting edge; a holder with blade, including a handle, and a terminal on the handle retaining the blade with the blade edge protruding; and a shield carried by the holder proximate the terminal, for movement between extended position in which the blade is protected, and retracted position in which the blade edge is exposed for cutting.

Abstract: An improved carpal tunnel tome for performing carpal tunnel release surgery is provided. In a first embodiment, a carpal tunnel tome including a slender handle with a blade at one end is provided. The blade is bounded on both sides by a pair of relatively blunt protuberances that extend distally beyond the cutting edge of the blade. In another embodiment, a carpal tunnel tome having a stem is provided. A cutting head, including a blade, is connected to the stem. One portion of the stem is angled so as to facilitate the use of the device in a small wound. The blade is bounded on one side by a short beveled protuberance, and on the other side by a longer blunted protuberance. In one embodiment, a disposable carpal tunnel tome is provided. The surgical procedure utilizing the tome requires only a single small incision in the palm of the patient's hand adjacent the distal end of the transverse carpal ligament.

Abstract: In order to facilitate a scoring of a sheet of material such as drywall, plasterboard, wallboard or the like, an apparatus includes a pair of arms each having an upper end and a lower end where the arms are spaced apart to define a sheet-receiving channel for receiving the sheet of material therebetween. The lower ends of the arms define an entry point for the sheet of material so the sheet of material can be placed between the arms and within the sheet-receiving channel with the sides generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the arms. The upper ends of the arms are connected to accommodate relative movement of the lower ends of the arms toward and away from one another. The apparatus includes a cutter for scoring at least one side of the sheet of material which is operatively associated with at least one of the arms at a point located generally remote from the upper end thereof.

Abstract: A knife has a handle, a blade joined to the handle and having a blade back, and a fabric cutter integral with the blade. The fabric cutter includes a fabric cutter body extending laterally outwardly from the back side of the blade, with the outwardly extending margin of the fabric cutter body defining a fabric cutter back. A finger extends rearwardly at least about 0.2 inches toward the handle from the outward margin of the fabric cutter body. The finger and the blade back are substantially parallel to each other and separated by a distance of from about 0.100 to about 0.150 inches to form a fabric cutter slot having a cutting edge at its bottom.

Abstract: A carpet cutting knife guide for cutting overlapping adjacent edges of two pieces of carpet to be laid adjacently on a floor. The guide has two lateral members substantially parallel to each other and spaced from each other. A platform member extends from the first lateral member to the second lateral member and has an opening through which at least a blade of a carpet cutting knife member can pass to thereafter be positioned substantially at the floor. The opening has in conjunction therewith at least one friction fit means whereby a portion of the knife member can be releasably retained. The platform member is constructed of a flexible material such that exerting a force thereon causes the knife member to limitedly move substantially perpendicularly toward the floor. Wheels are provided for manually moving the guide over the overlapping edges of the carpet to be cut.

Abstract: A cutter assembly which includes a support, a recess in the support, a slot formed within the recess for receiving a cutting blade having a cutting edge such that only the tip of the cutting edge extends from the support. A U-shaped channel adjacent to the slot defines a flexible finger in engagement with the blade. A cover plate shaped to fit within the recess retains the blade within the slot. The cover plate has a pin projecting therefrom which is dimensioned to be received within a distal leg of the U-shaped channel so as to maintain the finger in engagement with the blade and at least one projecting button for engagement with the surface of the blade to retain the blade within the slot.

Abstract: A flexible material wall trimming tool (10) cuts flexible material (32) such as flexible flooring material and flexible wall cove material at the intersection of a floor (34) and a wall (35). An elongate low profile block body (12) is formed with a bevel angle pusher surface (15) at the back end (14) of the block body (12) for pushing the wall trimming tool in the elongate cutting direction (18) using the palm of a hand. The bevel angle pusher surface (15) delivers force components downward against the floor (34) and sideways against the wall (35) for accurate cutting. A blade slot (20) is formed on the cutting side (28) of the block body (12) near the back end (14). The blade slot (20) is also formed at a compound angle. A blade holder (24) rigidly clamps a blade (22) in the blade slot (20) at the compound angle. A tool angle trim adjuster (42) is slidably received in a tool angle trim slot (40) on the opposite side (38) of the block body (12) from the cutting side (28).

Abstract: A meniscectomy knife includes a preformed cutting trace through which a cutting element moves in response to motion producing means disposed on a handle. The cutting trace defines an arc having a size and shape which closely correspond to the lines of stress along a meniscus in the meniscal region of a human knee joint.

Abstract: A multifunction cutting tool includes a cutting head adjustable for straight, free form or circular cutting of glass and tile, interchangeably mountable hobby and hook blades for cutting carpet, PVC, matting and the like, a roller cutter for cutting cloth, wallpaper, leather and similar sheet material, knife and scissor sharpeners and an angled carpet cutter blade mounted in a carriage with a base plate for sliding under the carpet. The tool has blade guards to protect the user from accidental injury and brackets supporting the cutting blades that are stabilized by resilient snap fittings and laterally extending support shoulders. Access to retractable folding hobby and hook blades is improved by the addition of screwdriver tip receiving pivot slots in the blades and the work surface of circular cuts is protected by a suction cup having a recessed and covered metal attachment.

Abstract: An economical adjustable clay cutter for repeatably cutting equal segments of clay is disclosed. The device includes an arbor, cutting means, guide means, locking means, a handle and measuring means. The adjustable clay cutter is designed to reduce the amount of stress and strain to the user's wrist during repetitive use.

Abstract: An improved microknife for use in spinal surgery is disclosed which simplifies the procedure for performing an anterior cervical discectomy, while reducing the possibility of penetrating the dural sac or injuring the spinal cord.

Abstract: A cutter useful for opening relatively thin flat packages such as IV bags has a handle and a slot which receives the marginal edge of the package. A recessed blade within the slot severs the margin of the package, the slot being sufficiently narrow as to prevent either the contents of the package or the figures of the user from accidental contact with the blade.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a letter opening device comprising an elongated tubular handle, a removable tubular cap and a generally L-shaped cutting guide including a cutting blade and a blade holder. The cutting guide is affixed to the forward end of the tubular handle and has an elongated nose portion which is adapted to fit underneath the flap of an envelope to be opened. The elongated nose portion has an elongated groove for receiving the sharp tip of the cutting blade. The blade holder is pivotally mounted to the cutting guide and can be moved to easily replace the blade. An elongated safety shield is slidably mounted inside the tubular handle for shielding the blade when the letter opening device is not in use. The shield has an actuating member attached thereto for moving the shield within the tubular handle.