As far as scalpels being chisel ground I just did a quick google search and didn't come up with much saying that they are or are not chisel ground. The ones I've seen aren't but I could be wrong. Best quick explanation I can give (assuming that they are chisel ground) is that the scalpel will have a thinner stock than most chisel ground EDC knives due to the fact that it's for slicing a pretty soft medium. That being said I would also throw in that a scalpel is for making precise cuts not wounds, and therefore using that level of precision should eliminate slashes the way they would play out in a combat scenario.
I believe most scalpels used in hospitals/clinics are chisel ground...and also disposable. As I ran into with
FortyTwoBlades, certainly there can be exceptions to everything.
A thinner stock can be and is often chisel ground; some Leatherman/Multi Tool blades are an example. Razor blades too. I don't see stock thickness being so much of a determining factor as what you state. Not a limiting thing anyway....unless we're going into left field rarities again--which may certainly exist out there.
Not sure about "precision vs. slashing." The fact that chisel grind is widely used is all I was trying to point out initially---and that it can certainly be made extremely sharp. That's all I was trying to point out originally.
Not sure this gets us much of anywhere though.... pretty basic.
As far as why I say they would make a nastier wound, I would recommend reading Ernest Emerson's philosophies on chisel ground (I've dabbled and been given summaries) knowing from experience a chisel ground blade separates skin a little differently in a stabbing or combat scenario and doesn't create an even pull apart due to the flat side instead of the even V grind
I've read some of Mr. Emerson's writings, as have many in here. Evidently I missed his chapter on wound analysis.
Sorry, but I don't think there would be much of a distinction between use of a chisel vs. V-grind blade, both being sharp, in the "combat" scenario you point out. A coroner may, after the fact, be able to distinguish between the two edges as used, but the SEVERITY potential seems equal to me. At least I'm unaware of any documented studies on same, proving a chisel to make nastier wounds in a real world combat situation once all is said and done. Nor is it likely I'll ever find out. I don't consider myself a combat knife fighter by any means.
If you have a specific link to something documenting that I'd be glad to take a look at it. If I can learn something....hey. Not that this particular aspect of the subject is of great interest to me, nor did I ever bring it up.
Seems to be a lot of "speculation" in your post. Just my opinion....
Thanks for the contribution though. I suppose it's food-for-thought to some.