An electrosurgical scalpel for a gas-assisted electrosurgical system. The electrosurgical scalpel has a dielectric portion and a conductive portion. The dielectric portion forms a substantial majority of the outer surface of the scalpel such that the conductive portion is only exposed along a thin edge of the scalpel. The dielectric portion provided stiffness to the very thin conductive portion and causes energy to be concentrated at the thin edge of the scalpel.
