Abstract: Shaped articles, especially ones containing a plurality of fine through passages, are made from a composition containing a refractory particulate material by extrusion, cutting the extrudate, while vertically hanging or suspending into lengths while in the green deformable state by a high velocity water jet, and then calcining to bind the refractory particles together. Depending on the nature of the refractory material, the articles are of use as catalyst supports or precursors, adsorbents, or absorbents. The extrudate is extruded horizontally and allowed to sag into a gap between the extrusion die and a transport device, which is driven positively to maintain the degree of sag within predetermined limits, and the frequency of cutting depends on the rate of movement of the transport device.