Personally I would never use a scalpel blade by itself for anything. They're not designed to be used that way...it's like shaving with just a double edged razor blade between your fingers...sooner or later you're going to get cut. If you have NOTHING else then I guess it might be worth the risk. I'm rarely without a multitool and even more rarely (as in never) without a knife of some kind. The gear repair kit lives in my pack and my Gerber LMF II lives lashed to the pack...It's extremely unlikely I won't have a sharp should I need the kit...knock wood