Abstract: In a die casting apparatus having a first die and a second die movable into closed engagement with the first die to define a mold cavity therebetween, a sprue removal mechanism includes a degater knife, a rocker arm mounted to pivot about a fixed axis and connected to the degater knife, a cam fixed to the second die, and a cam follower carried by the rocker arm. As the second die moves away from the first die, the cam follower travels along the cam to wing the rocker arm and drive the degater knife to an extended position between the open dies, thereby severing the sprue from a completed casting while the casting is supported by the first die.