Edged weapons (sometimes referred to as sharp weapons or blades) are an increasing threat to military personnel, the blue light community (police, ambulance, firefighters, other first responders) and the general public worldwide. The use of edged weapons in criminal and terrorist incidents internationally means the forensic community needs an awareness of the technology of edged weapons, how they are used, the damage (clothing and wounding) that might be caused and any other forensic implications. In this paper, the magnitude of the problem is presented, prior research summarised and implications for forensic investigations discussed.
Keywords: Concealment; Forensic implications; Injuries; Textile damage; Use; Weapon types.