A cutting apparatus for producing a controlled strand length effect using a tobacco cutting machine fitted with standard, non-profiled knives is disclosed. The cutting apparatus comprises a mouth defined by a jaw assembly for delivering the material to be cut to a cutting position at the mouth and a cutting drum. The cutting drum is provided with a least one knife the, or each, knife having a cutting edge. The cutting drum comprises drive means and is rotatable about an axis arranged substantially parallel to the mouth such that the cutting edge of the at least one knife is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the material to be cut. A grinder is provided for removing material from the cutting edge of the at least one knife, wherein the grinder is configured to be brought into contact with the cutting edge with a movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum and with a movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum. The cutting apparatus allows the maximum length of strands of cut tobacco to be limited, by employing standard plain knives combined with a special mode of operation of a cutting machine knife grinding system.