Soft tissue retraction during abdominal surgery requires consistent, controlled blade positioning throughout the procedure. The army navy surgical instrument addresses this with a double-ended design that provides two blade lengths from a single instrument, reducing instrument exchanges and maintaining a clear operative field during incision exposure and suturing. Standard general surgery protocol relies on handheld retractors of this class to hold back skin and superficial muscle layers without locking mechanisms, requiring stable ergonomic geometry that does not compromise grip over extended retraction periods.