~ the headman's sword ~

Beheading by sword or axe, a public entertainment in central and northern Europe until a hundred and fifty years ago, but in many extra-European countries to this very day, is done with a horizontal slash.

A long apprenticeship is needed for perfecting aim and force; executioners kept in trim by practicing on animals in slaughter houses, and on dummies fitted with pumpkin heads. As stated before when talking about the guillotine, a head cut off with a swift and neat slash is fully aware of its fate as it rolls along the ground or falls into the basket. Perception is extinguished only after a few seconds.