Executioner's Sword
Executioner's Sword or Sword of
Justice, executioner's axe and guillotine. History, construction
and use of execution weapons.
Executioner's Sword
Executioner's Sword or Sword of Justice was a common sword (one handed
or two handed) in early medieval times.
Executioner's Sword was improved during late medieval times and
renaissance into a very effective and deadly tool.
16th century sword of justice was two handed sword with heavy and wide
blade without sword tip.
Sword of justice had usually a special inscriptions on its blade.
Executioners used a law phrases, quotes, and pictures of torture and
execution.
Executioner swords were preferred on continent in Medieval Europe. Axe
was preferred weapon of executioners in England.
Execution by sword
Person sentenced to execution by sword was made to kneel down although
they could, if short, be executed standing up, or even sitting in a
chair.
Executioner's Axe
Two handed axe or a double axe was used for beheading in combination
with high or low block.
High block (18-25 inchces) was used for example in England and in some
German lands. Convict was beheaded while kneeling.
Some countries (Sweden) used a low block where the person lies full
length and puts there neck over the small wooden block which is just a
few inches high. This was the most difficult method of beheading and it
often went wrong.
Guillotine
Guillotine was a semi automatic tool for beheading.
Guillotine was widely used during French Revolution. Some sources say
the 40 000 Frenchmen were executed by this terrible weapon during a few
years. Guillotine served in France till 1981. Guillotine was also widely
used in German prisons during WW2.
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