# CSI: Pointy Weapons **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133 "2013-11-17T18:32:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/1 "2013-11-17T18:32:24Z")
On the television show it goes like this- “By analyzing the depth and width of the wound, and the serration marks on the skin, we were able to determine that the weapon used was a hand-forged stag rifleman’s Knife with a 4 1/4” Handle, only manufactured by an online dealer called Swamp Fox Knives. Find out who ordered that knife, and we’ve got our murderer!" How far from real forensics is this? ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/2 "2013-11-17T19:17:56Z")
It is not totally clear cut, but some useful information can be gleaned. The depth of a stab wound may exceed the length of the blade due to compression of soft tissues so a wound 6" deep could be made by a blade only 5" long. Of course the same wound could be made by a blade 9" long that did not fully penetrate to the blade’s full depth. Corresponding bruise marks at the edge of the wound may indicate a hilt on the weapon. Wound patterns are different for a single edged vs double edged weapons. Serration of the blade is evident by the damaged done. Overall, such analysis may more easily exclude a particular knife more easily than identifying the exact knife used. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/3 "2013-11-17T20:43:28Z")
True dat. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/4 "2013-11-17T20:52:46Z")
They can find the person by looking at the national knife registry :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/5 "2013-11-17T20:55:34Z")
Relevant recent thread: [Are police procedurals becoming self-parodies?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=707209) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/6 "2013-11-17T20:56:24Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Relevant recent thread: > > [Are police procedurals becoming self-parodies?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=707209) That was my inspiration for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/7 "2013-11-17T20:57:46Z")
[You can actually tell quite a lot about the weapon](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0347.html). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/8 "2013-11-17T21:40:18Z")
Semi-obligatory [XKCD reference.](http://xkcd.com/683/) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/9 "2013-11-17T21:47:15Z")
How far do you think any crime lab would get identifying wounds made from [these knives?](http://www.swordsknivesanddaggers.com/fantasy-knives.html) In particular, what about [this one](http://www.swordsknivesanddaggers.com/double-turbo-fantasy-knife-silver-2222.html), which I just happen to own? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/10 "2013-11-17T23:19:26Z")
What about a pointed stick? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/11 "2013-11-17T23:58:56Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > It is not totally clear cut. . . So to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/12 "2013-11-18T00:58:22Z")
Other than knives made specifically as weapons, the only two-edged utility knife I’m aware of is a duct knife. Does anyone know why they’re usually two-edged? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/13 "2013-11-18T02:57:30Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Other than knives made specifically as weapons, the only two-edged utility knife I’m aware of is a duct knife. Does anyone know why they’re usually two-edged? First I heard of these, but the Home Depot page for one says “Its double-edge blade is ideal for making blind cuts in flex duct.” Or for another brand, “The stainless steel blade is dual-sided: one serrated and one regular for added versatility.” ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/14 "2013-11-18T04:08:32Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > What about a pointed stick? Shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/15 "2013-11-18T06:14:51Z")
Questioning the truth of tv csi is pointless. The example i point out is that no matter where they look, they find relevant evidence, and it takes less than a few hours regardless of size. Imagine sifting through a bag of lawn trimmings to find the one blade of grass that matters. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/16 "2013-11-18T06:17:27Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Questioning the truth of tv csi is pointless. The example i point out is that no matter where they look, they find relevant evidence, and it takes less than a few hours regardless of size. Imagine sifting through a bag of lawn trimmings to find the one blade of grass that matters. It’s totally unrealistic! I mean, in real life they’d have interns for the lawn trimmings! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/17 "2013-11-18T07:52:53Z")
Focusing back in on the topic, how good are real forensics experts when it comes to identifying blades used by examining wounds? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/18 "2013-11-18T13:07:28Z")
If killers would stop using those cheap-ass knives that always leave a small bit of broken tip in the wound, they’d get away with more murders. ---
**Author:** ![fanganga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fanganga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fanganga)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/19 "2013-11-18T13:12:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How far do you think any crime lab would get identifying wounds made from [these knives?](http://www.swordsknivesanddaggers.com/fantasy-knives.html) In particular, what about [this one](http://www.swordsknivesanddaggers.com/double-turbo-fantasy-knife-silver-2222.html), which I just happen to own? Need answer fast? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/20 "2013-11-18T13:13:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > What about a pointed stick? Splinters, duh. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > How far do you think any crime lab would get identifying wounds made from [these knives?](http://www.swordsknivesanddaggers.com/fantasy-knives.html) In particular, what about [this one](http://www.swordsknivesanddaggers.com/double-turbo-fantasy-knife-silver-2222.html), which I just happen to own? People who own knives like those tend to not kill others with them. (No true killer argument) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133.md?page=2)