A scalpel, in particular for ophthalmologic applications, having a handle head and a blade, wherein the blade, which includes a blade shank and a blade face, is inserted into a handle head of the handle, and at least one cutting edge is formed on the blade face, wherein the blade shank is configured together with the blade face as a body on which a continuous smooth rear surface is formed, whereby the front of the body opposite from the rear surface forms a cylindrical surface in the area of the blade shank and forms the top of the blade in the area of the blade face, and the end of the handle head has two surfaces that are slanted with respect to each other and that abut, like a roof edge, in an edge that is perpendicular to the axis of the handle, and whereby, in a first of the slanted surfaces, there is an opening for inserting the blade, whereby the inserted blade comes to lie in the opening in such a way that the smooth rear surface is flush with the first slanted surface.
