What angle must the blade be? Is it good to have a high attack angle, or one that’s nearly flat?
How heavy should the apparatus holding the blade be? How far should it travel? Is keen sharpening important, or does the weight do most of the work? What kind of latch/release do you use?
Lastly, morbid extra credit, did they ever execute someone with their face up, so they could see the blade coming?
EDIT FOR CLARITY: Way more complex than an axe or a noose.
Pretty sure they gave them a choice to face up or face down. Some chose to look at the sky one last time before the blade fell…might have been a better view than a basket with dried…and not so dried blood on it.
I choose…sideways. I’ll make faces at some kid in the crowd. And when the blade comes down, my face will be stuck that way!
His mom will be proved right! Don’t make faces or your face will get stuck that way!
If you’re guillotineed.