The invention concerns an apparatus for cutting at least one continuously conveyed rod into rod-shaped articles of variable length, in particular cigarettes, filters or the like, including a cutting device, a counter-support and displacing devices for the cutting device and the counter-support for varying the cut length of the articles, which is characterized in that the displacing devices for the cutting device and the counter-support are coupled together to make a functional connection. Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding method which is characterized in that, to alter the length of the articles to be cut off the rod, only one component is displaced, namely optionally the cutting device or the counter-support, and the other component is automatically displaced with it as a function of the displaced component.