Mass debating on the Ripper - no hard feelings

[Tom_Wescott]

Coroner at the Stride Inquest: Was there anything in the cut that showed the incision first made was done with a pointed knife? Phillips: No.

Dr. Blackwell then mentioned that he was informed that slaughtermen always used round-pointed instruments.

I was referring to the Eddowes murder, because we were discussing the Coram knife not having been discussed at the Eddowes inquest. At the Stride inquest Phillips made it perfectly clear he did not think the killer would have used such a weapon as the Coram knife. Although the singular cut to Stride's neck did not involve the point of the weapon, there was no question the blade itself was quite sharp and it would follow the tip would be as well. The Coram knife had no connection whatsoever with either double event murder. It was dropped on the street on a later day. Phillips didn't think it the weapon and I see no reason why anyone today should.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Scott Nelson]

But presumably the same knife may have been used in both murders, which was the point. Phillips didn't discount it as a murder weapon, but thought it unlikely because it had a long blade and the position of the incision (with victim's head lying on the ground, blood spatter low on wall) would have made the incision too awkward to make and Blackwell said -- "...the murderer using a sharp, round-pointed instrument would severely handicap himself, as he could only use it one way."

But why couldn't the head be lifted while the incision was being made, or was this already implied, but still thought unlikely because of the length of the blade? The blade was certainly sharp enough.

[Tom_Wescott]

But presumably the same knife may have been used in both murders, which was the point. Phillips didn't discount it as a murder weapon, but thought it unlikely because it had a long blade and the position of the incision (with victim's head lying on the ground, blood spatter low on wall) would have made the incision too awkward to make and Blackwell said -- "...the murderer using a sharp, round-pointed instrument would severely handicap himself, as he could only use it one way."

But why couldn't the head be lifted while the incision was being made, or was this already implied, but still thought unlikely because of the length of the blade? The blade was certainly sharp enough.

The same knife may certainly have been used in both murders but this knife was not the Coram knife, which was not sharp and has no known connection to either murder.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Scott Nelson]

What part wasn't sharp? I'm talking about the blade, which certainly was sharp.

When you say the knife had no known connection to each murder, are you taking into account that somebody could have carried the knife away from the last murder scene, held it for about 24 hours, and then dropped it outside?

[Wickerman]

Blackwell described the weapon as ". . It must have been a sharp-pointed knife, .", this rules out the Coram knife.

Blackwell was able to determine this due to the first incision on the abdomen. The knife was thrust upwards in the breastbone, before being dragged down. This will leave an imprint in the bone or cartilage which gives away the shape of the tip of the blade.

In modern forensics they will often inject a wax-like substance into stab wounds which, when set, will form to the shape of the blade that was used.
The Coram knife is a no-go for the Eddowes murder, and far too unwieldy to be used on Stride.