Abstract: A rotary knotting head for a wire tying machine containing an axial bore and radial slot to the bore for receiving the wire and a wire wrap surface spaced from the bore at the opposite side of the radial slot characterized in that wear resistant inserts are set into faces of the wrap surface and the side of the slot opposite the wrap surface which extend from the bottom of the radial slot radially towards the open end thereof and are of substantially the same area.