A combination surgical blade holder allows simple insertion sequentially of a plurality of blades, each blade having an opening (232) for receiving a cleat and/or an abutment (220) in a blade receiving area on the holder. The holder includes a fixed portion (12) and a rotatable portion (14) that pivot relative to one another in the same longitudinal plane around a pivot point (29) positioned adjacent the blade receiving area and lock together to securely hold the blade in the blade receiving area. While the fixed portion of the holder is gripped in one hand, the thumb or finger of the same hand is used to unlock and rotate the rotatable portion to release and eject the blade singlehandedly, without touching the blade. The fixed portion of the holder includes a cleat and/or an abutment that mate with an opening in the blade. Alternatively, the blade includes a tab (231) that mates with a depression (219) in the blade receiving area to lock the blade in the holder.