diff --git a/crates/but/src/args/metrics.rs b/crates/but/src/args/metrics.rs
index 614de27deff..d7c028fe8d6 100644
--- a/crates/but/src/args/metrics.rs
+++ b/crates/but/src/args/metrics.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ pub enum CommandName {
     Rub,
     Diff,
     Edit,
+    Open,
     Show,
     Commit,
     CommitEmpty,
diff --git a/crates/but/src/args/mod.rs b/crates/but/src/args/mod.rs
index a1c6a3c2fe2..8d6c1f59f89 100644
--- a/crates/but/src/args/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/but/src/args/mod.rs
@@ -216,6 +216,24 @@ pub enum Subcommands {
         file: String,
     },
 
+    /// Open a file with uncommitted changes in the workspace using your configured editor.
+    ///
+    /// This is a shorthand command to be able to open a file in the workspace using a CLI ID. The
+    /// primary use case is to run `but status` followed by `but open <id>` using one of the IDs
+    /// emitted by `status`.
+    ///
+    /// ## Examples
+    ///
+    /// ```text
+    /// but open nt
+    /// ```
+    ///
+    #[clap(verbatim_doc_comment)]
+    Open {
+        /// The CLI ID of the entity to open in your editor
+        target: String,
+    },
+
     /// Shows detailed information about a commit or branch.
     ///
     /// When given a commit ID, displays the full commit message, author information,
diff --git a/crates/but/src/command/legacy/mod.rs b/crates/but/src/command/legacy/mod.rs
index bfe8251f7d8..516799bb9c7 100644
--- a/crates/but/src/command/legacy/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/but/src/command/legacy/mod.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ pub mod mark;
 pub mod mcp;
 pub mod mcp_internal;
 pub mod merge;
+pub mod open;
 pub mod oplog;
 pub mod pick;
 pub mod pull;
diff --git a/crates/but/src/command/legacy/open.rs b/crates/but/src/command/legacy/open.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ba718f858f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/but/src/command/legacy/open.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+use anyhow::{Result, bail};
+use but_ctx::Context;
+
+use crate::{CliId, IdMap, tui::get_text};
+
+pub(crate) fn open_target(ctx: &mut Context, target: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    let id_map = IdMap::new_from_context(ctx, None)?;
+    let cli_ids = id_map.parse_using_context(target, ctx)?;
+    if cli_ids.is_empty() {
+        bail!("ID '{target}' not found")
+    }
+
+    if cli_ids.len() > 1 {
+        bail!(
+            "ID '{target}' is ambiguous. Found {} matches",
+            cli_ids.len()
+        )
+    }
+
+    let cli_id = &cli_ids[0];
+
+    match cli_id {
+        CliId::Uncommitted(uncommitted_id) => {
+            if !uncommitted_id.is_entire_file {
+                bail!("Cannot open part of file")
+            }
+
+            let path = &uncommitted_id.hunk_assignments.head.path;
+            get_text::launch_editor(path.as_ref())
+        }
+        _ => bail!("Can only open uncommitted files"),
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/but/src/lib.rs b/crates/but/src/lib.rs
index 6dca90e9c27..f7e005d33c9 100644
--- a/crates/but/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/but/src/lib.rs
@@ -235,6 +235,17 @@ async fn match_subcommand(
             Ok(())
         }
         Subcommands::Gui => command::gui::open(&args.current_dir).emit_metrics(metrics_ctx),
+        Subcommands::Open { target } => {
+            let mut ctx = setup::init_ctx(
+                &args,
+                InitCtxOptions {
+                    background_sync: BackgroundSync::Enabled,
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+                out,
+            )?;
+            command::legacy::open::open_target(&mut ctx, target.as_ref()).emit_metrics(metrics_ctx)
+        }
         Subcommands::Completions { shell } => {
             command::completions::generate_completions(shell).emit_metrics(metrics_ctx)
         }
diff --git a/crates/but/src/tui/get_text.rs b/crates/but/src/tui/get_text.rs
index 397f98c1c41..d89828ca19c 100644
--- a/crates/but/src/tui/get_text.rs
+++ b/crates/but/src/tui/get_text.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,26 @@
 //! Various functions that involve launching the Git editor (i.e. `GIT_EDITOR`).
 //!
 //! When no external editor is configured, falls back to the built-in TUI editor.
-use std::ffi::OsStr;
+use std::{ffi::OsStr, path::Path};
 
 use anyhow::{Result, bail};
 use bstr::{BStr, BString, ByteSlice};
 
+/// Opens the provided filepath in the user's preferred editor.
+///
+/// # Note
+///
+/// The user-configured editor command is allowed to be a shell expression (e.g. `"code --wait"`),
+/// and is therefore executed within a shell. As such, the path passed into this function **must be
+/// safe to use in a shell context**. Never pass in user-supplied strings that have not been
+/// verified to point to a file that `but` is supposed to be allowed to open.
+pub fn launch_editor(path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
+    match get_editor_command() {
+        Some(editor_cmd) => launch_external_editor(&editor_cmd, path),
+        None => bail!("Built-in editor not yet supported"),
+    }
+}
+
 /// Launches the user's preferred text editor to edit some `initial_text`,
 /// identified by a `filename_safe_intent` to help the user understand what's wanted of them.
 /// Note that this string must be valid in filenames.
@@ -68,20 +83,30 @@ fn from_external_editor(
         .tempfile()?;
     std::fs::write(&tempfile, initial_text)?;
 
-    // The editor command is allowed to be a shell expression, e.g. "code --wait" is somewhat common.
-    // We need to execute within a shell to make sure we don't get "No such file or directory" errors.
+    launch_external_editor(editor_cmd, tempfile.path())?;
+    Ok(std::fs::read(&tempfile)?.into())
+}
+
+/// Launch an external editor.
+///
+/// # Note
+///
+/// The editor command is allowed to be a shell expression (e.g. `"code --wait"`),
+/// so it is executed within a shell to avoid "No such file or directory" errors.
+fn launch_external_editor(editor_cmd: &str, path_safe_intent: &Path) -> Result<(), anyhow::Error> {
     let status = gix::command::prepare(editor_cmd)
-        .arg(tempfile.path())
+        .arg(path_safe_intent)
         .stdin(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
         .stdout(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
+        .stderr(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
         .with_shell()
         .spawn()?
         .wait()?;
-
     if !status.success() {
         bail!("Editor exited with non-zero status");
     }
-    Ok(std::fs::read(&tempfile)?.into())
+
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 /// Launch the built-in TUI editor.
diff --git a/crates/but/src/utils/metrics.rs b/crates/but/src/utils/metrics.rs
index 4131a2f6296..23e638f9ea0 100644
--- a/crates/but/src/utils/metrics.rs
+++ b/crates/but/src/utils/metrics.rs
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ impl Subcommands {
                 skill::Subcommands::Check { .. } => SkillCheck,
             },
             Subcommands::Edit { .. } => Edit,
+            Subcommands::Open { .. } => Open,
             Subcommands::Link(link::Platform { .. }) => Unknown,
             Subcommands::Onboarding | Subcommands::EvalHook => Unknown,
         }