Medical Implications

of
Edged Weapon Assault

B.E.w.A. R.E
dAll Rights Reserved @ Specialist Prevention 2009

All Rights Reserved Specialist Prevention 2009

The Medical Implications of Bladed Weapon Assault.

It must always be remembered that there is no safe level of knife assault and no such thing as any
bladed weapon that when used in an assault should not be considered a deadly weapon.
W. E. Fairbairn is recognized as one of the founders of combat edged weapon systems and co-de
signer of the famed Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife that was widely used by the military.
Fairbairn described the basic targets of the human physiology which were the most vulnerable to
a knife assault.
The most vulnerable targets focused on large arteries which would lead to quick blood loss or a
rapid drop in blood pressure.
Six targets consisting of four arteries: Brachial, Radial, Carotid and Subclavian as well as the heart
and the stomach were deemed to be the areas that were most likely to be involved in a fatal knife
assault.
It was his contention that successful knife attacks to these targets would result in death or quick
incapacitation due to loss of the blood volume, and for this reason all encounters with an edged or
bladed weapon must be considered a potentially fatal attack.
Fairbairn developed what was known as the Timetable of Death and whilst it is contentious
as to whether it is accurate in a complete sense, it can be considered a guide to the seriousness of
having any injury to these areas as a result of being attacked with a bladed or edged weapon.
This chart was the first to identify the depth below the surface of the skin of vulnerable targets,
and the time estimated to lapse into unconsciousness and finally die from their knife injuries.
Fairbairns Original Timetable of Death.

EXPLAINATION OF FIG. 112

No.

Name of
Artery

Size

1......
2......
3......
4......
5......
6......

Brachial
Radial
Carotid
Subclavian
(Heart)
(Stomach)

Medium
Small
Large
Large
---------

Loss of
Depth below Surface Consciousness
in Seconds
in Inches.
1/2
1/4

11/2
21/2
31/2
5

14
30
5
2
Instantaneous
Depending on
depth of cut

Death
11/2 Min.
2
12 Sec.
31/2
3

FIG. 112

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It has now become apparent that there is no correlation between the length of the blade and its
lethal potential.
In many countries knives with very small blades have not been considered capable of causing fatal
injuries and as a result, their legal systems have challenged officers deadly force decisions based
on the length of a knife blade. To the uninformed, it is widely believed that unless a blade is more
than 3 inches long, the knife should not be considered a deadly force threat, and is treated accordingly. Because of the many deaths caused by a large variety of small bladed weapons including
box cutters or Stanley Knives, it is clear that this assumption is wrong.
It is obvious that a 1/2 inch blade on a box cutter is capable of delivering a fatal slash wound to
targets such as the Carotid Artery or any number of other vulnerable points that appear on the
side of the neck.
This fact should reinforce the grave risks of allowing a potential attacker armed with a bladed weapon to close the distance with a person who is unaware of the lethal capabilities of a 1/2 inch knife
blade and as a result is hesitant in recognising it as a deadly force situation. Ultimately ignorance
of the facts could become a contributing factor in the death or serious injury of the victim.
Category of Bladed Weapons.
There is a different method in technique and distancing in defending against these various edged
weapons, which involves varying levels of knowledge, skill and determination.

1) The Screwdriver or Chisel.

This falls into the lower danger category because it is only a stabbing weapon and doesnt have a
cutting edge, therefore making it possible to grab hold of without the risk of injury.

2) The Syringe.
This is also a stabbing implement which is capable of causing injury, but is also dangerous because
of its possible contents and their potential to infect the victim with blood born diseases.
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3) The Box Cutter and Stanley Knife.

This is a small slashing razor-edged blade which is quite often contractible and was brought to the
publics attention because of its use on the hijacked planes in the 911 terrorist attacks in the U.S.

4) The Shiv.
Primarily a jail weapon used for rapid fire, multiple stabbing strikes, but may also have a sharp
edge. It is also capable of causing injury if the sharpened point is dragged across the surface of the
skin or face.

5) The Drink Glass and Broken Bottle.

These are generally weapons of opportunity that are used to stab and to cut. These weapons have
many sharp points as well as many cutting edges and can be dangerous to defend against. Often
used from behind or the side of the victim to strike at the face or neck. Attacks with these kinds of
edged weapons are commonly used in altercations on licensed premises.

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6) The Flick or Folding Knife.

A knife that is folded and can be opened quickly. They come in various configurations such as
spring loaded (automatic), gravity loaded or Balisong. They can have one sharp edge or two.

7) The Straight Blade.

These knives come in many shapes and sizes and can have one sharp edge or two.

8) The Hatchet or Axe.

These are both swinging chopping implements with the smaller hatchet being more mobile and
able to be used for faster blows. The axe is slower and harder to use with quick blows against an
opponent.

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9) The Sword and Machete.

The machete is a large single-edged, bladed weapon which is generally swung in a chopping, cutting motion. It can also be used to stab.
The sword is a larger, single or double edged bladed weapon which is generally swung in a chopping or slashing motion but can also be used to stab. These can be extremely sharp along their
cutting edge as in the case of the Samurai sword.
Weapon
Stanley Knife or Box Cutter

*Broken Bottle or Drink Glass

*Flick or Folding Knife
*Straight Blade
Hatchet or Axe

*Machete or Sword
Weapon
Screwdriver or Chisel
Syringe
Shiv

Slashing Bladed Weapons

Blade Length
10mm-50mm
50mm-130mm

Usual Targets
Head, Neck, Arms
Head, Neck, Arms

50mm-140mm

Head, Neck, Arms, Legs, Torso

50mm-220nn

Head, Neck, Arms, Legs, Torso

Variable
220mm-800mm

Head, Neck, Arms, Torso

Head, Neck, Arms, Torso

Stabbing Bladed Weapons

Blade Length
100mm-180mm
Needle 15mm-45mm
120mm-200mm
50mm-130mm

Usual Targets
Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen
Anywhere
Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen
Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen

*Broken Bottle or Drink Glass

50mm-140mm
Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen
*Flick or Folding Knife
50mm-220nn
Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen
*Straight Blade
220mm-800mm
Anywhere
*Sword
* Denotes that these weapons can be used for both stabbing and slashing strikes.

In Conclusion.
These bladed and edged weapons are capable of inflicting fatal injury to key circulatory vessels
that lie just beneath the surface of the skin. The vital veins and arteries which can be found in the
neck, as well as the heart lying just below the surface of the Sternum are extremely vulnerable to
any attack by a sharp or pointed implement of any description, regardless of the blade length.
All persons that are confronted, threatened or assaulted with a bladed or pointed weapon must
treat the situation as having potentially fatal consequences and act accordingly.
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Deadly Knife Assault Targets

Right Carotid Artery

External Carotid Vein
Internal Jugular Vein
External Jugular Vein
Brachiocephalic Trunk

Eye
Temple
Throat

Lungs
Heart
Diaphragm
Liver
Stomach

*Under the organs

Kidneys
Abdominal Aorta
Inferior Vena Cava
Commom Iliac Artery
Commom Iliac Vein

1
2
3
4
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