A BATTERY OPERATED ELECTRIC KNIFE HAVING AN ELONGATED HOUSING DEFINING THE KNIFE HANDLE AND ENCLOSING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND BATTERY UNIT. A PAIR OF CHARGING CONTACTS ARE MOUNTED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE ELONGATED HOUSING WITH ACCESS OPENINGS THERETO AND A CHARGING AND STORAGE STAND ARE PROVIDED SHAPED TO RECEIVE THE KNIFE HANDLE IN ONLY ONE PREDETERMINED POSITION WHEREBY SAID HOUSING FOR THE ELECTRIC KNIFE MAY BE RESILIENTLY CLAMPED IN ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHARGING UNIT. AN IMPROVED PERMANENT MAGNET ROTOR IS EMPLOYED HAVING AN OUTER FIELD MEMBER COMPRISING A RESILIENT CYLINDRICAL SHELL WITH A SLIT THEREIN.