A suture cutting device is provided, the device suitable for cutting high strength suture materials used in arthroscopic surgeries. The device includes a blade (12) having distal blade portion movable within a distal suture guide, the distal suture guide including a lateral suture guide slot (54). The distal blade portion includes a dorsal recess (70) that, in combination with an upper wall of an enclosed blade guide slot, controls an amount of dorsal movement of a cutting edge during a longitudinal movement of the cutting edge. The combined dorsal movement and longitudinal movement of the cutting edge creating a sliding/slicing movement of the cutting edge against a suture in the suture guide slot. At least a proximal blade portion and an extension blade portion are made of a single blade, those portions defining a spring, contacting a trigger, and effectuating a movement from a first position to a second position.
