What is the blade angle that a guillotine is sharpened to, and how often resharpened?

That info is hard to come by. That was a scene from the movie papillon. Good movie, great book
 
I usually start with the 30 degree back bevel on the Sharpmaker but freehand the microbevel for toughness. :eek:

:D:D
 
Lavan said:
I usually start with the 30 degree back bevel on the Sharpmaker but freehand the microbevel for toughness. :eek:

:D:D
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lol
I wonder if any "guillotiners" were steel snobs? "440A??? This is a farce! I have like 50 necks to get through today. Stupid revolution."
 
I'd imagine it was a quite simple grind, possibly a chisel grind? This would also make maintenance simpler.

Admittedly I don't know much about the subject, but I'd guess that the guillotine relied more on the weight of the blade rather than being razor sharp for clean decapitations.
 
Interesting question. I would imagine that given the huge momentum it would build up and the blade angle, a sharp edge would not really be necessary. But then given the huge numbers of executions during the revolutionary terrors, and unfortunately also during the Algerian war, some sharpening might well be needed.

It's gruesome and messy, but really compared to the alternative means of execution back in the day it's about the quickest way to go.
 
Considering the weight attached to the falling blade, sharpness probably wasn't necessary. :barf:
 
The guillotine was actually originally invented for decapitating sheep for slaughter. :)

The edge itself was likely kept reasonably sharp, but only with a file or coarse stone as needed, and at a broad angle of 20° per side or more because it had to repeatedly cleave bone. The weight of the blade allowed it to pass uninterrupted through bone, but the angle of the blade produced a slicing effect for the flesh--since there's no true anvil surface for it a dull blade would cause a bit of a mess. At least some degree of sharpened edge was necessary.
 
Head removal is instant, and oxygen depletion to the brain happens in seconds, probably the most humane method. Whereas lethal injection or the chair, death is a much slower process.
 
I watched a documentary on it a few years ago. Evidently it could be quite bad if things werent done properly, with the blade causing the "target" to move and the edge riding up the neck to the base of the skull.
 
And with the number of "seconds" till unconsciousness debated. Being at least 3-5 and some saying many more. Macabre subject.
 
Just as with animals, a bolt gun would technically be the most humane method.
 
Rememberin back to my college learnin days, seems that somewhere I read that many of the guillotines used fell into disrepair, and were only sharpened when they stopped cutting heads and starting crushing spines. I believe there are accounts of people having the blade dropped on them more than once. If you keep it sharp, I'd say its humane. But a dull guillotine? Ouch!

'Course, I was always partial to drawing and quartering.
 
Actual footage of guillotining going on from 1794:


[youtube]sM-169xrYpQ[/youtube]


The guy at 3:33 is stiff as a board after the chop!


:thumbup:;):D
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Just as with animals, a bolt gun would technically be the most humane method.
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400px-Nocountryforoldmen2.jpg
 
Ok, since nobody has said, it I will.

You could really lose your head trying to figure all of this out ;D
 
1AbominAble1 said:
Ok, since nobody has said, it I will.

You could really lose your head trying to figure all of this out ;D
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Didn't need to say it. Lost my head years ago trying to figure out life.
 
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