# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**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 18, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/21 "2013-11-18T18:26:05Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Shut up. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/22 "2013-11-18T21:04:07Z")
I’ve got one word for you - ice dagger. ---
**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, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/23 "2013-11-18T21:29:19Z")
The reason I posted this in General Questions was to get away from the CSI jokes. Anyone have any real information that pertains to the topic of this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/24 "2013-11-18T21:35:37Z")
Technically that’s two words. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/25 "2013-11-18T21:54:54Z")
Here’s a lengthy (49 page) report on criminal forensics of knives and saws. I haven’t had time to read it yet, but it may have some of the info you’re asking. A brief quote: > [@](#): > > Knives can be differentiated from other blades in that knives are > tools with a thin blade that sometimes terminate in a point. Knives also commonly > have blade bevel (blade tapering) and always have at least one area of edge bevel > (sharpened edge) on the blade. Tools such as box cutters, razor blades or machetes > can be classified as knives while blades like propellers, augers, and tree chippers > are not (Symes et al. 2002). [http://symesforensics.com/documents/SawMarkManual\_Symes.pdf](http://symesforensics.com/documents/SawMarkManual_Symes.pdf) ---
**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, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/26 "2013-11-18T22:11:00Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Here’s a lengthy (49 page) report on criminal forensics of knives and saws. I haven’t had time to read it yet, but it may have some of the info you’re asking. > > A brief quote: > > [http://symesforensics.com/documents/SawMarkManual\_Symes.pdf](http://symesforensics.com/documents/SawMarkManual_Symes.pdf) Thank you. I’ll check it out when I get home(Can’t open pdfs at work.) ---
**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, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/27 "2013-11-18T22:16:08Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > People who own knives like those tend to not kill others with them. (No true killer argument) On the other hand, weapons like these are very easy to acquire-they can be found at gun knife shows, and at science fiction and fantasy conventions. In fact, the latter two are likely to have hand-forged weaponry that won’t be found in any catalog and are thus totally untraceable. ---
**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 19, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/28 "2013-11-19T02:13:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > On the other hand, weapons like these are very easy to acquire-they can be found at gun knife shows, and at science fiction and fantasy conventions. In fact, the latter two are likely to have hand-forged weaponry that won’t be found in any catalog and are thus totally untraceable. Very interesting. It deals mostly with sawing off body parts, and how to tell if a knife was used or a saw and, if a saw was used, what kind. Doesn’t really get into the stabby part of my question, but it’s a useful and somewhat easy to understand guide. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/29 "2013-11-19T16:29:49Z")
Glad it’s a start. Here’s some more: [http://forensicmed.webnode.com/wounds/sharp-force-trauma/stab-wounds/](http://forensicmed.webnode.com/wounds/sharp-force-trauma/stab-wounds/) [http://regionstraumapro.com/post/2623426678](http://regionstraumapro.com/post/2623426678) [http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1680082-overview](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1680082-overview) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/30 "2013-11-19T19:51:12Z")
I was going to do some speculating, but actual information has been presented, so I will just read instead. I noted the comments about having tried injecting latex to get a mold of the wound that has not been very successful. > [@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? Those knives all have unusual features. Curvature of the blade may be possible to determine. In particular about the double lock-back knife you have, depending upon the angle and depth of the wound, it may be identifiable that there are two tips. The serrations along the blade edges may leave marks on the wound edges. Comparing depth of wounds to length of wounds will give some indication of whether the blade is long and thin or short and wide. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/31 "2013-11-19T19:59:56Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Glad it’s a start. > > Here’s some more: > > [http://forensicmed.webnode.com/wounds/sharp-force-trauma/stab-wounds/](http://forensicmed.webnode.com/wounds/sharp-force-trauma/stab-wounds/) > > [http://regionstraumapro.com/post/2623426678](http://regionstraumapro.com/post/2623426678) > > [http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1680082-overview](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1680082-overview) I find it very suspicious that you had these links readily available, Prof. Pepperwinkle, if that is, in fact, _your real name_. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/32 "2013-11-19T20:10:54Z")
Just because I’m not allowed to _ **play** _ with sharp objects, doesn’t mean I don’t know about them… ---
**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 19, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/33 "2013-11-19T20:50:00Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Just because I’m not allowed to _ **play** _ with sharp objects, doesn’t mean I don’t know about them… And minions _do_ have their uses. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/34 "2013-11-19T21:22:08Z")
So, width of blade, depth of wound, type of blade (serrated, double vs single etc) are all common info. Those are in many coroners reports. If, indeed, it was some super VIP that was killed, then yes, they could get more info. There would be some traces of the metal, maybe. Altho they could quite easily match or no-match a given weapon found in a perps possession, I have never heard of a case being cracked by figuring out what sort of unusual edged weapon it was then tracking down who bought it. Of course, this often doesn’t even work with guns as “It got stolen” pretty much ends the trail, unless it’s your perp. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133/35 "2013-11-19T21:22:25Z")
I think the fact that the only lights in the whole office are a few desk lamps should tell you all you need to know. (I wonder how many crimes the Las Vegas police department could solve by seeing what the CSIs had dropped on the floor) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/csi-pointy-weapons/674133.md?page=1)