Abstract: An apparatus for severing a succession of filter rod sections, cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles which are transported at right angles to their respective axes and advance through a severing station has a drum-shaped conveyor which transports the articles, a rotary disc-shaped knife which is disposed at the severing station and whose peripheral cutting edge extends into a circumferential groove of the conveyor to sever successive articles at the severing station, and a stationary guide member formed with a slot for reception of those increments of the knife which are about to enter the severing station. The guide member stabilizes the knife by reducing the extent of or by eliminating vibration, fluttering and/or other stray lateral movements of those portions of the cutting edge which are about to penetrate into the oncoming articles at the severing station.