Utility knife blade slider with auto-lock on blade insertion

A blade retainer comprising:

• a base portion comprising a side wall and one or more guide members positioned on opposite ends of the side wall, wherein the side wall and the one or more guide members form a boundary of a receiving channel for slidably receiving and removably retaining a utility blade;
• and
• a locking arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the locking arm comprising an overhang portion on the first end and a retainer portion on the second end, the overhang portion coupled to the base portion and extending across the receiving channel, the retainer portion configured to removably engage a notch of the utility blade,
• wherein during installation of the utility blade into the blade retainer along the receiving channel:
• a leading edge of the utility blade passes the overhang portion prior to contacting the retainer portion,
• the utility blade deflects the locking arm out of the receiving channel, and
• the locking arm resiliently returns to the receiving channel and the retainer portion engages the notch of the utility blade.