Abstract: A guillotine cutting apparatus for solid bodies of hard brittle materials such as building bricks, blocks and stone, has a base member mounting a movable cutter for engagement with the body and cutting force applying means which imparts an impact cutting force to the cutter. Preferably a measuring frame for determining the length of the body parts that are to be cut comprises a movable stop member against which one end of the body is butted, the stop member being resiliently mounted in the frame to permit its movement away from the cutting plane as the body is cut. Preferably the cutting force applying means comprise a hand operated hammer slidably mounted on a relatively long shaft connected to the cutter member and guided by the shaft into contact with an anvil on the shaft, thereby imparting a stored energy high impact cutting force to the movable cutter.