Abstract: An attachment for securement to a forklift and for use in severing the bands surrounding fiber bales is described. The attachment includes a blade and a coupling device for releasably securing the blade to the arm of a conventional forklift. The arms of the forklift can then be pressed toward each other in the manner in which they are used to grip a bale, such that the blades sever the bands surrounding the bale. The blades are desirably V-shaped, and one can be provided on each of the forklift arms. The attachment can be used to sever the bands of one fiber bale at a time, or can be used to simultaneously sever the bands surrounding two adjacent fiber bales.