Research: Rounded Knives as Safer Alternatives to Pointed Blades

Kitchen knives are the most commonly used weapons in violent crime in England and Wales, and are responsible for the majority of homicides in many countries worldwide. A 2020 research study published in Science & Justice examined whether alternative knife designs could reduce the harm caused by stabbing incidents.

The Study

Researchers at De Montfort University Leicester conducted over 300 controlled stabbing motions using five different knife types against four common clothing fabrics: T-shirt, jumper, jeans, and faux leather skirt. These materials were chosen because they represent typical forensic exhibits and cover the most commonly targeted body areas in stabbing incidents, namely the torso and trunk.

The knives tested included: R-shape tip, rounded tip, sheepsfoot, straight-edged pointed, and serrated-edged pointed designs. The resulting fabric damage was photographed and measured for statistical analysis.

Key Findings

The results were striking. Both pointed knife types (straight-edged and serrated) caused the most severe damage, producing pronounced openings in all garment types. The R-shape and sheepsfoot tips created smaller holes. However, the rounded-tip knife failed to penetrate any of the fabric surfaces, despite leaving visible impact marks on some materials.

The researchers created a "hazard map" rating knife and clothing combinations from very limited (green) to very significant (red) damage. The rounded knife was the only design rated as green across all fabric types, as none of the surfaces were breached.

Implications for Crime Prevention

The study suggests that rounded-tip knives offer a clear alternative to conventional pointed blades: a knife of culinary utility without the possibility of accidental injury and with little or no value in violent crime. This finding supports calls from medical professionals, judges, and academics who have highlighted pointed knife tips as the primary factor causing injuries and fatalities in stabbing incidents.

Global Context

The UNODC 2019 Global Study on Homicide reported that sharp objects were responsible for more than 97,000 homicides worldwide. In over 16 countries, including Hungary, Poland, Singapore, and Sri Lanka, sharp objects accounted for more than 50% of total homicides. In the UK, the Home Office Homicide Index consistently records sharp instruments, including kitchen knives, as the most frequently used weapon for both male and female homicides.

The domestic setting is a particularly concerning location. Statistics show that perpetrators responsible for more than 58% of female homicides are known to the victim, and the most likely location is the home, where kitchen knives are readily accessible.

Policy Recommendations

The policy brief accompanying this research makes three key recommendations:

1. Promote rounded knives as safer alternatives – Educate communities with accessible, age-specific information about rounded knives as alternative culinary tools.
2. Campaign for legislation restricting pointed knives – Encourage policymakers to create policies as a public health and safety measure, with multi-agency involvement from health professionals, police, judiciary, and charities.
3. Engage with knife manufacturers and retailers – Work collaboratively to design and supply safer alternatives, creating partnerships for proactive crime reduction and accident prevention.

Source

Nichols-Drew, L., Armitage, R., Hillman, R., Sheridan, K.J. and Farrugia, K.J. (2020). On a knife edge: A preliminary investigation of clothing damage using rounded-tip knives, Science & Justice, 60(6), pp.495-503. DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2020.08.002