30" tall solid hardwood 1792 style guillotine.

To see detailed photos of this machine, click here.

Clients have been at me to make a scale model for killing 12" GI Joe action figures and busty high fashion dolls. I was finally, or should I say financially inspired to act.

I used solid maple so it is tough, very tough, but oak and softwood examples have been built.

This model is really loud, although as a result of the design, very stable on the floor. Shock absorbing technology, of the type available to the users of the time is used to spread out the force of the drop.

Steel and brass were used for all fittings, and hammered into shape by me. The blade is blacksmith rivetted to the mouton, so it is going nowhere but up and down. Brass flashing on the lunette really makes the image.

Want one?

13" tall maple 1860 style "super custom action playset" with everything, and includes a customer!

To see detailed photos of this machine, click here.

A repeat offender in Maryland contacted me about a super duper desktop guillotine. He having already purchased one of my earlier oak 1792 models, knew what he could expect as far as quality of craftsmanship and proceeded to custom design, with my help, the most expensive model I have ever built.

He began by listing a few requirements. It must be 13" tall and made from maple or birch for the sharp sound they produce, stained mahogany red. It must be built in the 1860s style, and have a cleat on the main riser for safety sake. I told him I would begin construction over the weekend while he found a doll he could kill.

The next day he announced that I would make the doll myself and the hell with the price of the thing! What do you want my good man?

I told him $1500.00 and he said only if I promise to only work on it when it is fun, and make the mouton with adjustable weight to make up for the aluminum blade. I will explain later. All jointery is tight, all moving parts are plumb, all sound warm and distinct. There is even a gargoyle head on top.

The customer is held together by a permanent magnet attracting a small steel brad driven into the customer's neck. Clever, right? Too clever it seems as the magnet happily rode the blade back up the risers with headless body in tow. Hence the aluminum blade and all that implies. All cladding and rivets are of brass with both simulated and genuine flush riveting. Too many options to recall, now that it is gone.

If you want a set like it, you will need $2000.00USD to get the same thing only designed by you.

8' redwood/spruce/pine 3/5 scale miniature guillotine.

To see a detailed photo of this machine, click here.

This monsterpiece is a floorshaking 8' in height and hits with such force that I was finally made to add shock absorbing technology such as was available at the historical time. In other words, "add more mass to the areas that break."

Anyway this model is made to be taken down and moved or stored for next year. All mortise and tennon jointery anchored with massive wooden pins in augered holes. How's that for old school. I had to fabricate oak and rubber reenforcement steps to catch the mouton, which quickly showed what it's intentions were considering the pathetic dead end I provided.

It was almost heartbreaking to stain it since it looks so good in these fotos. Will keep you posted on progress and eventual murals. I might even rent this guy out for holidays or live theatre.

15" tall solid birch and steel 1792 miniature guillotine.

To see a detailed photo of this machine, click here.

My first local commission, when you consider 100 miles from my shop local anyway. It is of solid birch and is as handsome as it is fun to play with. These birch and to add that my sustainably grown rosewood copies are the smoothest running over years of use and they just do everything better.

Oak may be strong, traditionally used and sometimes even pretty but the tight grained hardwoods are just preferred by those that know.