A surgical scalpel handle with illuminator allowing the surgeon to use the illumination to light the surgical field while holding the scalpel handle is disclosed. A surgical scalpel handle with an illuminator comprises a scalpel handle that contains, a structural strut, that serves to attach light emitting diode (LED) cartridge with the strut terminating into a bayonet fitting attachment for the blade element; and a light emitting diode (LED) cartridge with a series of light emitting diodes embedded in the cartridge. The LED cartridge is attached to the scalpel handle by sliding the bayonet fitting of the strut through the central axis of the light emitting diode cartridge and then by screwing LED cartridge onto the strut in order to attach to scalpel handle and expose at least a part of the LED cartridge.