Fountain Pen As Murder Weapon?

[Segel]

How about this:

 

[dojocho]

Michael Cain in 'Get Parker'

[andreasn]

I think I just proved that ballpoints are at least as effective weapons as fountain pens by stabbing myself with one. I actually drew some bloods (ok, a tiny drop, but still).

[Bill_D]

I think a fountain pen is much more likely to be the motive for murder. In fact, my wife has threatened to kill me several times over an actual or contemplated fountain pen purchase.

[hardyb]

Perhaps the pen (adjusted to leak) could be filled with a poison easily absorbed through the skin mixed in with the ink. The victim dies from getting the ink on their hand/fingers. A highly radioactive isotope could be used or some biological agent. Remotely detonated plastic explosive packed in the barrel could also work. If the person was prone to putting the end of the pen in their mouth while thinking that offers yet another route of delivery (surface contact, gas emission, thermal trigger by body heat or moisture, pressure switch linked to the nib). The explosive could also be set off when the user unscrews the cap or the barrel of the pen to fill it and if the pen is made of the right material it could just obliterate itself. Give the book "In The Name Of The Rose" by Umberto Eco a read. I also think S. Holmes once solved a mystery of a box that had a poison needle installed in its lid, could work here too.

Edited December 9, 2014 by hardyb

[inkstainedruth]

Perhaps the pen (adjusted to leak) could be filled with a poison easily absorbed through the skin mixed in with the ink. The victim dies from getting the ink on their hand/fingers. A highly radioactive isotope could be used or some biological agent. Remotely detonated plastic explosive packed in the barrel could also work. If the person was prone to putting the end of the pen in their mouth while thinking that offers yet another route of delivery (surface contact, gas emission, thermal trigger by body heat or moisture, pressure switch linked to the nib). The explosive could also be set off when the user unscrews the cap or the barrel of the pen to fill it and if the pen is made of the right material it could just obliterate itself. Give the book "In The Name Of The Rose" by Umberto Eco a read. I also think S. Holmes once solved a mystery of a box that had a poison needle installed in its lid, could work here too.

Last fall I was in an antiques store about an hour from where I lived. I asked to see a pen in a revolving case, even though I was thinking "wow, how did the barrel get so deformed?" (it had a definite curve in it ). The guy in the store told me it wasn't really a pen -- it was a novelty item that was effectively a cap gun and would go off when you pulled the cap!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[lurcho]

I think a fountain pen is much more likely to be the motive for murder. In fact, my wife has threatened to kill me several times over an actual or contemplated fountain pen purchase.

 

Is that profile picture DB Cooper's FBI photofit?

[SockAddict]

Perhaps the pen (adjusted to leak) could be filled with a poison easily absorbed through the skin mixed in with the ink. The victim dies from getting the ink on their hand/fingers. A highly radioactive isotope could be used or some biological agent. Remotely detonated plastic explosive packed in the barrel could also work. If the person was prone to putting the end of the pen in their mouth while thinking that offers yet another route of delivery (surface contact, gas emission, thermal trigger by body heat or moisture, pressure switch linked to the nib). The explosive could also be set off when the user unscrews the cap or the barrel of the pen to fill it and if the pen is made of the right material it could just obliterate itself. Give the book "In The Name Of The Rose" by Umberto Eco a read. I also think S. Holmes once solved a mystery of a box that had a poison needle installed in its lid, could work here too.

 

I once read a cosy mystery where the victim was allergic to milk and milk powder was applied to something she would put in her mouth. Applying something to the end of a pen would work with that approach, too. Then it wouldn't even necessarily show up as poison!

[cadfael_tex]

Well I figure the only way to test this out is to try it...

 

Jk.

[NinthSphere]

Well I figure the only way to test this out is to try it...

 

Jk.

 

Go for it. Let us know how well it works.

[Bill_D]

Is that profile picture DB Cooper's FBI photofit?

Yes, I thought it would be a funny avatar.

[Ink Blotto]

Yes, I thought it would be a funny avatar.

You should list skydiving, primitive camping, and wealth redistribution as hobbies.

[balson]

looks like someone attempted it but it did not work

 

http://www.kamakurapen.com/Archive/FountainPenAs%20LeathalWeapon.html

 

edit: found another relevant one on his site

http://www.kamakurapen.com/Archive/ThePoisonPen.html

Edited December 17, 2014 by balson

[inkstainedruth]

You should list skydiving, primitive camping, and wealth redistribution as hobbies.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Wheatflower]

How about this:

 

I now really want to watch DeathLamy 2000. Well done!

[dojocho]

I don't know about fp's, but In the early 80's the Belgian filmmaker Guy Lee Thys made a thriller called 'De Potloodmoorden' (The Pencil Murders).

 

[SockAddict]

Just got back from seeing "Kingsman," and yup, killer fountain pens!

[Consulting_Detective]

Well I figure the only way to test this out is to try it...

 

Jk.

 

Somebody call Dr. Lecter , he would be the perfect person to try it out...

He might even cook us dinner afterwards...

 

-RTMC

[Aelfattrum]

Apparently picked up elsewhere as a plot device: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/mar/22/unforgotten-series-four-episode-five-recap-what-now-for-cassie