While sorting through his late grandparents’ belongings, a young man came across some unusual metal objects. Intrigued, he showed them to a friend, but neither could figure out what they were—until an online search revealed the answer.

These mysterious metal sticks turned out to be vintage nutcrackers from the 1940s or 1950s, designed to help extract nuts from their shells. Though they could be used for various types of nuts, they were particularly handy for cracking open chestnuts.

Sets like these were often included with seafood tools, complete with crackers for shellfish and small picks to extract the meat. Some even came with decorative wooden bowls shaped like chestnuts, making them both practical and charming.

For many, these tools bring back fond memories of family gatherings and holiday traditions.

Did you or your family ever use nutcrackers like these? Share your favorite memories in the comments!