Inherited a box of utensils and this scary-looking clamp was inside. It opens like scissors but has spiked plates on the ends. Looks medical?

Inherited a Box of Utensils — and Found This Scary-Looking Clamp Inside. What Is It?

When sorting through a box of old kitchen utensils, I expected to find the usual — serving spoons, ladles, maybe a vintage whisk or two. What I didn’t expect was a strange, intimidating clamp that looked more like a medical instrument than something meant for cooking.

It opens like a pair of scissors, but instead of blades, it has two round, spiked metal plates at the ends. At first glance, it’s easy to assume it belongs in a surgical tray rather than a kitchen drawer.

So what is it?