Assailant technique in knife slash attacks.

Most knife assault victims attending hospital have slash-type wounds, mainly to the face, with fewer over the upper limb and trunk. Only 11% have multiple wounds. Sixty seven male soldiers were asked to slash a vertical human-sized target with a blade. The method of slashing was recorded for each. Approximately, half used multiple strikes, most attacked at the height of the upper torso. This differs from patterns of knife injury seen in clinical practice. The mechanics of fighting in which the victims fend off strikes or disengage is the likely explanation for these differences.