A handheld lighting device is provided with a detachable knife assembly. In one example, the handheld lighting device may include a light source that generates a light beam to illuminate a scene, such as a work area. The knife assembly may be coupled to the lighting device using an attachment mechanism. The lighting device may include a slot that may receive a sleeve of the knife assembly such that the knife assembly may be secured to the lighting device. The lighting device may illuminate the work area such that a user may readily see the area that a knife of the knife assembly may cut. The light source of the lighting device may be activated using a multi-access user control that may be L-shaped and actuated from one or more locations on the user control. Additional features and related methods are also provided.