Every once in a while, the internet gets stumped.
It’s rare. With millions of minds at our fingertips and forums full of experts in everything from ancient tools to obscure electronics, someone almost always knows what a mysterious object is.
But not this time.
We posted a photo of a strange-looking metal device we found tucked away in an old kitchen drawer — and it instantly lit up Reddit, Twitter, Facebook groups, and mystery-item forums. It looked familiar to some, completely alien to others. Guesses ranged from medical tools to woodworking instruments, from vintage grooming devices to parts of old machines.
The wildest theory? “Some kind of medieval torture device.” (We really hope not.)
What made it even more interesting is that the object seemed deceptively simple — a flat metal piece, a handle, a strange curved edge with an opening, and no moving parts. Yet despite its basic design, 90% of people who saw it had no idea what it actually was.
One commenter said, “It feels like I’ve seen this in my grandma’s kitchen… but I have no idea what she did with it.” Another wrote, “It looks like something you’d see in a 1950s diner, but I can’t place it.”
We even took it to a few antique dealers and kitchenware collectors. Only one person got it right — and they were over 70.
So what is it?
Drumroll…
It’s a cheese slicer — specifically designed for slicing block cheese.
Not your typical wire-style slicer or rotary grater, this tool was used to create perfect slices from a solid block of cheese. These were common in older kitchens before pre-sliced cheese was widely available. The slot allowed the blade to glide evenly, cutting clean slices without crumbling the cheese.
Functional, clever, and strangely forgotten.
The best part? We tried it. It works beautifully.
So there you have it — one of the few times the internet admitted defeat… all over a humble kitchen gadget.
Ever found something that had the whole internet guessing? Let us know — we’re always up for the next mystery.
