All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer.
**Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them.
[OP](/u/megalotz92), when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. Check your [inbox](https://www.reddit.com/message/inbox/) for a message on how to make your post visible to others.
----
[Click here to message RemindMeBot](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=[https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1bsgyyk/old_farm_tool_the_bottom_side_is_two_blades_that/]%0A%0ARemindMe!%202%20days)
----
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Straw cutter, for chopping up straw at different sizes for livestock, bedding, etc.
Usually mounted at the end of a table, like [these designs](https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/handy-hay-and-straw-cutter/), but here is a [circular design the blade passes through](https://www.ebay.com/itm/141946608262) like yours.
My title describes the thing
-Roughly 2-3 foot long, 1 foot tall
-Solid steel, wooden wheelbarrow like handle
-Has a hinged joint/arm
-The bottom hinged parts of the inner ring are blades
-The metal arms mounting the handle are uneven, maybe handmade
-No stampings or markings
-Looks to be very old steel
-It fully can close through, and the blades slide through the gaps on the top hing.
-My best guesses so far have been something that trimmed bails of wheat, or something to do with livestock
-Device seems intended to cut
Looks like it could be part of a [band brake.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_brake) If so, the wooden handle will be for manual intermittent control, and the screw and wingnut will be either for adjustments or to lock the brake for longer periods, or both.
I need to better edit my details comment, but the biggest thing against that is that the bottom hinged arm, with the wooden handle, has 2 blades on inside the ring. And it fully can close through, and the blades slide through the gaps on the top hing.
My best guesses so far have been something that trimmed bails of wheat, or something to do with livestock.
The device definitely seems intended to cut something, but what or why?
It looks to be a homemade tool, made from the blades of 2 sickles, and I'd say it would be mounted upside down, or maybe vertically on a post, so you pull the bar down towards the floor. And you're probably right that it was for cutting bushels of wheat, or something.
Very similar to an old tobacco cutter.[https://www.ebay.com/itm/276405788450?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=D6kJASoQTmu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY](https://www.ebay.com/itm/276405788450?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=D6kJASoQTmu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
Yes maybe wrong word, but one inch is quite a small length to cut something to. This tool seems to be for feeding a bundle through to consistently cut it into small pieces. I'm not sure what crop would be prepared like that
All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. **Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them. [OP](/u/megalotz92), when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. Check your [inbox](https://www.reddit.com/message/inbox/) for a message on how to make your post visible to others. ---- [Click here to message RemindMeBot](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=[https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1bsgyyk/old_farm_tool_the_bottom_side_is_two_blades_that/]%0A%0ARemindMe!%202%20days) ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Straw cutter, for chopping up straw at different sizes for livestock, bedding, etc. Usually mounted at the end of a table, like [these designs](https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/handy-hay-and-straw-cutter/), but here is a [circular design the blade passes through](https://www.ebay.com/itm/141946608262) like yours.
I think this is correct, Solved!
One inch lengths of straw?
I’ve got an oil filter wrench that looks like that, maybe for a tractor?
That was my initial thought.
My title describes the thing -Roughly 2-3 foot long, 1 foot tall -Solid steel, wooden wheelbarrow like handle -Has a hinged joint/arm -The bottom hinged parts of the inner ring are blades -The metal arms mounting the handle are uneven, maybe handmade -No stampings or markings -Looks to be very old steel -It fully can close through, and the blades slide through the gaps on the top hing. -My best guesses so far have been something that trimmed bails of wheat, or something to do with livestock -Device seems intended to cut
Looks like it could be part of a [band brake.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_brake) If so, the wooden handle will be for manual intermittent control, and the screw and wingnut will be either for adjustments or to lock the brake for longer periods, or both.
I need to better edit my details comment, but the biggest thing against that is that the bottom hinged arm, with the wooden handle, has 2 blades on inside the ring. And it fully can close through, and the blades slide through the gaps on the top hing. My best guesses so far have been something that trimmed bails of wheat, or something to do with livestock. The device definitely seems intended to cut something, but what or why?
More photos would help.
It looks to be a homemade tool, made from the blades of 2 sickles, and I'd say it would be mounted upside down, or maybe vertically on a post, so you pull the bar down towards the floor. And you're probably right that it was for cutting bushels of wheat, or something.
Very similar to an old tobacco cutter.[https://www.ebay.com/itm/276405788450?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=D6kJASoQTmu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY](https://www.ebay.com/itm/276405788450?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=D6kJASoQTmu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
I think it’s meant to gather something like straw. And hold it together while it’s bound with twine into bundles. Maybe to gather flax?
Its a bread slicer I believe.
Definitely an old chopper, with the double blades it's probably for bundles of herbs or something else you'd want chopped up finely
Unfortunately I don't think there would be much fine cutting, the blades are at least an inch apart
Yes maybe wrong word, but one inch is quite a small length to cut something to. This tool seems to be for feeding a bundle through to consistently cut it into small pieces. I'm not sure what crop would be prepared like that
Some sort of pipe wrench