Dual blade utility knife

A utility knife comprising, in combination:

• a handle having a first handle portion and a second handle portion and a central handle portion and coupling means to releasably join together the handle portions to define elongated upper and lower edges and short front and back edges for being readily grasped by an operator during use, a central plane extending longitudinally through the central handle portion and defining on opposite sides thereof a first blade-receiving chamber in the first handle portion for receiving a first blade holder and a second blade-receiving chamber in the second handle portion for receiving a second blade holder;
• a first blade and a second blade;
• and
• a first blade holder located in the first handle portion supporting the first blade and a second blade holder located in the second handle portion supporting the second blade, the blade holders and supported blades being independently reciprocable in sliding contact with the central handle portion in planes parallel with the central plane but on opposite sides thereof, each blade holder having an individual actuator extending to exterior of the handle whereby an operator may move either blade holder and its supported blade between a retracted inoperative orientation with its supported associated blade within the handle and an extended operative orientation with its supported blade partially exterior of the handle.

A utility knife comprising, in combination:

• a handle having a first handle portion and a second handle portion and a coupling means to releasably join together the handle portions to define elongated upper and lower edges and short front and back edges for being readily grasped by an operator during use, a central plane extending longitudinally through the central handle portion and defining on opposite sides thereof a first blade-receiving chamber in the first handle portion for receiving a first blade holder and a second blade-receiving chamber in the second handle portion for receiving a second blade holder;
• a first blade and a second blade;
• and
• a first blade holder located in the first handle portion supporting the first blade and a second blade holder located in the second handle portion supporting the second blade, bearing surfaces formed in each blade holder at adjacent surfaces, the first blade holder and the second blade holder being independently reciprocable with their adjacent surfaces in sliding contact with the central plane but on opposite sides thereof, each blade holder having an individual actuator extending to exterior of the handle whereby an operator may move either blade holder and its supported blade between a retracted inoperative orientation with its supported associated blade totally within the handle and an extended operative orientation with its supported blade partially exterior of the handle.