J Forensic Sci, January 2018, Vol. 63, No. 1 doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13502 PAPER Available online at: onlinelibrary.wiley.com PATHOLOGY/BIOLOGY LokMan Sung,1,2 M.D.; Kilak Kesha,3 M.D.; Jeffrey Hudson,4,5 M.D.; Kelly Root,1 and Leigh Hlavaty,1,2 M.D. Morphology of Modern Arrowhead Tips on Human Skin Analog* ABSTRACT: Archery has experienced a recent resurgence in participation and has seen increases in archery range attendance and in chil- dren and young adults seeking archery lessons. Popular literature and movies prominently feature protagonists well versed in this form of weap- onry. Periodic homicide cases in the United States involving bows are reported, and despite this and the current interest in the field, there are no manuscripts published on a large series of arrow wounds. This experiment utilizes a broad selection of modern arrowheads to create wounds for comparison. While general appearances mimicked the arrowhead shape, details such as the presence of abrasions were greatly influenced by the design of the arrowhead tip. Additionally, in the absence of projectiles or available history, arrowhead injuries can mimic other instruments causing penetrating wounds. A published resource on arrowhead injuries would allow differentiation of causes of injury by forensic scientists. KEYWORDS: forensic science, forensic pathology, compound bow, arrow, broadhead, morphology Archery, defined as the art, practice, and skill of shooting arrows While investigations into the penetrating ability of arrows with a bow, is indelibly entwined in human history. Accounts of have been published (5), this article is the first large-scale study the bow and arrow can be chronicled throughout human civiliza- evaluating the cutaneous morphology of modern broadhead tion from its origins as a primary hunting tool, migration to utiliza- arrow tip injuries in a controlled environment. It will service as tion in combat, and to its ancient and current day use in a reference and primer for medical examiners and coroners to competitive sport and recreational activities. As depicted in Pale- formulate their opinions and lend support in trial. olithic and early Mesolithic hieroglyphs, the bow is one of the ’ world s oldest weapons (1). While people around the world Materials and Methods employed these implements, they have all but been rendered obso- lete in contemporary warfare by the advancement of firearms (2). Broadheads are arrowheads that have sharpened edges or Despite its ancient pedigree in weaponry and sport, little docu- blades used for incising tissue. Terms used in this article to mentation on arrowhead injuries in forensic literature exists. In describe the characteristics of the broadheads include the tip, current society, very few instances of homicides involve the bow blade, width, and grains. The tip refers the very end of the and arrow, and when the arrow remains within the body, doubt broadhead and is the first portion that contacts the target. Arrow- as to the weapon used is eliminated (3). However, many modern head blades are their cutting edges. The width describes the compound bows are able to propel arrows with sufficient veloc- maximum spread or separation of the blades from one another. ity and energy needed to pass completely through a game ani- Grains are used to measure the mass of the broadhead, and one mal’s body with ease (4) and they would likely behave similarly grain is nearly 64.8 mg. in humans. In these instances, those who are unfamiliar with the There are multiple methods of organizing arrowheads configuration of modern arrowheads have few published (Table 1). One method of categorization is by having one group resources from which to draw. consisting of cutting blades that are fixed or nonmoving and a second group with mechanical blades where the cutting edges deploy upon striking or entering the target (Fig. 1). A second 1Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office, 1300 E. Warren Ave., system of division is according to the number of major blades Detroit, MI, 48207. 2 the arrowhead contains. Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Cen- In this study, the selection of arrowheads included one field ter Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109. 3Department of Forensic Pathology, National Forensic Pathology Service point (Fig. 2), 12 commonly used broadheads, and six variant- of New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand. design broadhead arrowheads. The two-blade broadheads 4Lucas County Coroner’s Office, Toledo, OH. included the Carbon Expressâ NativTM, Magnusâ StingerTM 2 5 Department of Pathology, University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus, blade, G5â HavocTM, Rageâ X-TremeTM, and the Swhackerâ 2280 Dowling Hall, MS 1090, Toledo, OH, 43614. (Figs 3 and 4). Standard three-blade broadhead arrowheads were *Supported by a grant from the University of Michigan, Department of TM TM TM Pathology AP Project Funding Committee Project #64. the G5â Montec , Muzzyâ Trocar , Rageâ Kore , Spitfireâ TM TM TM Received 5 Dec. 2016; and in revised form 5 Jan. 2017; accepted 6 Mar. Maxx ,G5â T3 , and the Grim Reaperâ Razortip (Figs 5 2017. and 6). The Magnusâ Stinger BuzzcutTM 4 blade was the only 140 © 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences SUNG ET AL. MORPHOLOGY OF MORDERN ARROWHEAD TIPS 141 TABLE 1––Arrowhead summary. Blades Fixed or Brand Model Number Mechanical Allen Field point None Carbon Expressâ NativTM 2 Fixed Magnusâ StingerTM 2 Fixed G5â HavocTM 2 Mechanical Rageâ X-TremeTM 2 Mechanical Swhackerâ 2 Mechanical G5â MontecTM 3 Fixed Muzzyâ TrocarTM 3 Fixed Rageâ KoreTM 3 Mechanical Spitfireâ MaxxTM 3 Mechanical G5â T3TM 3 Mechanical Grim Reaperâ RazortipTM 3 Mechanical Magnusâ Stinger BuzzcutTM 4 Fixed FIG. 2––Field point arrowhead. Scale in inches. Flying Arrow Archeryâ CycloneTM 3 Fixed Flying Arrow Archeryâ ToxicTM 3 Fixed Outdoor Sports Productsâ SaberMaxxTM Fixed similarities of porcine skin to human skin in relation to their Muzzyâ Small game point None anatomic, physiologic, histologic, histochemical, and immunohis- Flying Arrow Archeryâ CycloneTM 3 Fixed tochemical properties (6). With these parallels, it was determined Trophy Ridgeâ BuckblasterTM 6 Fixed and that slaughtered pigs would serve as an appropriate human ana- Mechanical log. The carcasses were suspended from a metal frame by the legs to present the full lateral side of the animal for maximiza- four-blade broadhead tested (Fig. 7). Variant broadheads tion of usable body surface area. Four Blockâ Classic 18TM included the Flying Arrow Archeryâ CycloneTM, Flying Arrow archery targets were stacked to capture arrows that passed Archeryâ ToxicTM, Flying Arrow Archeryâ Tom BombTM, Out- through the animals. Arrows that missed the animal or archery door Sports Productsâ SaberMaxxTM, Muzzyâ small game targets would fragment upon impact with a concrete barrier and point, and the Trophy Ridgeâ BuckblasterTM (Figs 8 and 9). then be captured by a B.U.P. Sportsâ The ShieldTM backstop Except for the 125 grain Trophy Ridgeâ BuckblasterTM, all (Fig. 11). arrowheads used were 100 grains. The arrow tips were attached A Nikon D90 digital camera affixed with an AF Zoom-NIK- to 68.6 cm (27-inch) Beman ICSâ BowhunterTM arrows, each KOR 24-85 mm f/2.8-4D IF lens was used to document the with a spine stiffness of 400 and weighing 8.4 grains per inch. morphology of the resulting entrance wounds. A Missionâ BallisticTM compound bow with a 72.4 cm (28.5- inch) draw length set to a 27.2 kg (60 lb) draw weight was used Results to fire the arrows (Fig. 10). This configuration produced an aver- age of velocity of 86 m/s (282 ft/s). The fixed, two-blade arrowheads, such as the Carbon The arrows were fired perpendicularly at pig carcasses from a Expressâ NativTM and Magnusâ StingerTM 2 blade, created distance of 10 meters. Previous research groups have shown the entrance wounds having the appearance of a typical stab wound FIG. 1––Broadhead design: (A) Fixed blade (B) Mechanical. Scale in inches. 142 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES FIG. 3––Fixed two-blade broadheads, side and tip views: (A) Carbon Expressâ NativTM (B) Magnusâ StingerTM 2 blade. Scale in inches. FIG. 4––Mechanical two-blade broadheads, side and tip views: (A) G5â HavocTM (B) Rageâ X-TremeTM (C) Swhackerâ. Scale in inches. SUNG ET AL. MORPHOLOGY OF MORDERN ARROWHEAD TIPS 143 FIG. 5––Fixed three-blade broadheads, side and tip views: (A) G5â MontecTM (B) Muzzyâ TrocarTM. Scale in inches. FIG. 6––Mechanical three-blade broadheads, side and tip views: (A) Rageâ KoreTM (B) Spitfireâ MaxxTM(C) Grim Reaperâ RazortipTM (D) G5â T3TM. Scale in inches. 144 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES FIG. 7––Four-blade, Magnusâ Stinger BuzzcutTM broadhead, side and tip views. Scale in inches FIG. 8––Flying Arrow Archery variant broadheads, side and tip views: (A) CycloneTM (B) ToxicTM (C) Tom BombTM. Scale in inches. SUNG ET AL. MORPHOLOGY OF MORDERN ARROWHEAD TIPS 145 FIG. 9––Additional variant broadheads, side and tip views: (A) Outdoor Sports Productsâ SaberMaxxTM (B) Muzzyâ small game point (C) Trophy Ridgeâ BuckblasterTM. Scale in inches. possessing bilateral pointed ends (7). The length of the stab Spitfireâ MaxxTM reflect a popular style of mechanical blade wound on the skin reflected the maximum width of the blades if deployment where the blades fold backward upon penetration the arrow shaft was perpendicular to the skin surface (Fig. 12A). into the skin and expose their cutting edge as it continues These two broadheads had blades that were continuous with the through the target. Although the blades are razor sharp, both the tip and began cutting the skin immediately upon contact. This central portions and three radiating cuts were abraded contrasts with those having trocar tips, like the Swhackerâ, with (Fig. 13B). The Rageâ KoreTM was unlike any of the other wounds exhibiting central abrasion flanked by nonabraded cuts broadheads because of its unsharpened tip.