Assuming ideal conditions, certainly. It is recorded that the beheading of King Charles, when sentenced to death for attempting to "uphold in himself an unlimited and tyrannical power to rule according to his will, and to overthrow the rights and liberties of the people" had his head cleaved from his body in one clean blow of the executioner's axe.

It is known however that guillotines were introduced to streamline the process, as it could be an exceptionally messy affair.