A tape applicator (20) including housing, carriage, and blade assemblies (22;24;26). The housing assembly (22) includes a housing (40) and an application roller (42). The carriage assembly (24) includes a carriage body (120), a hub (122), and an idler roller (124). The carriage body (120) and hub (122) are slidably mounted within the housing (40). The idler roller (124) is rotatably mounted to the carriage body (120). The blade assembly (26) includes a blade arm (200), a blade (28), and a pressing finger (202). The blade arm (200) pivots relative to the housing (40) about a pivot axis. The blade (28) projects from the blade arm (200) to a tip. An articulation plane is defined by the blade tip and the pivot axis. The pressing finger (202) projects from the blade arm (200) through the articulation plane. The applicator (20) is transitionable between an application state and a cut state to sever tape (302) along an internal tape path. The pressing finger (202) flexes to prevent the tape (302) from adhering to the blade (28) during the cutting operation.