They Invented What? (No. 234)

U.S. Patent No. 420,995: Beheading block and ax.

JW Note:  Hat tip and thanks again to the Creepy IP Series at the United States Patent and Trademark Office for bringing this one to our attention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, Is-

1. In an executioners headblock, the combination, with the body of the block, of a neck-rest provided with an opening closed by flexible strips, substantially as described.