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Unknown utensil

The photo is of a utensil found in a European (French) kitchen. What is its use?

The knife is 7 inches (18 centimeter) long.

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3 Answers 3

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The handle of the round plastic object feels really distinctive to me. It would clearly work with a normal hammer-like grip, but it also has the thumb-print inviting the user to choke the grip up close and apply lots of force. I'm pretty sure it's for scraping.

The metal tool is a bit confusing; it looks like it could cut, but it's clearly not a knife.

After a minute's thought, I'm comfortable guessing that this is a child's pumpkin-carving kit.

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    I'd never even heard of a pumpkin carving kit, but from looking at others on Google Images I'm convinced. The colour of the plastic parts ties in to that too.
    – dbmag9
    Jun 10, 2020 at 13:08
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    @GdD How does it not answer the question? The OP asked what the use of the utensils is; ShapeOfMatter answered that the utensils are a child's pumpkin-carving kit.
    – dbmag9
    Jun 10, 2020 at 13:09
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    I misread the question @dbmag9, my bad.
    – GdD
    Jun 10, 2020 at 13:19
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    The little saw is surprisingly effective at carving a pumpkin, and much safer than using a kitchen knife. Though they do tend to be flimsy and easily bent to the point of no longer being usable. They're very common in U.S. grocery stores around Halloween.
    – bob
    Jun 10, 2020 at 20:34
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    Yep, I have a pumpkin carving kit and it looks very similar to this.
    – Kat
    Jun 10, 2020 at 21:00
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Suqash utensils

I found a Swiss website that offers a similar set of tools, called «Ustensiles à courge», which translates to «Squash utensils».

Squash utensils

I believe that @ShapeOfMatter correctly identified the purpose, so I am givng that person the correct answer status...

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    Luckily they offer their site in a language I understand better than french - it says "Set for hollowing out pumpkins, mellons and similar" ^^
    – eagle275
    Jun 11, 2020 at 9:15
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    Although the two sets seem designed for the same purpose, the ustensiles à courge seem to be meant for serious cooks. They're better made, and the serrations on the knife are sharp enough that you could cut your fingers. The orange-handled set has dull serrations that are child-safe.
    – AndyB
    Jun 12, 2020 at 2:37
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It could also be a form of grapefruit knife I believe.

enter image description here

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    That was my initial guess too, though it looks like we've found what it is with certainty.
    – Joe M
    Jun 11, 2020 at 16:00
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    @Thomas Grapefruit knives are curved to follow the shape of the fruit, as you can see in your picture. The one in the question is clearly flat.
    – Bloke Down The Pub
    Jun 11, 2020 at 18:21

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