Firearms identification is a discipline of forensic science primarily
concerned with determining if a bullet and/or cartridge case was fired by a
particular firearm. This determination requires the use of a comparison
microscope to microscopically examine fired evidence.
Firearms: Firearms are submitted as evidence for a number of different
reasons: operability, collection and microscopic examination of test fires
from a particular firearm to different types of fired evidence, serial number
restoration, trigger pull, ejection pattern studies, and the documentation of
any alterations to the firearm.
Fired Evidence: Fired bullets, discharged cartridge cases and shotgun shells
are examples of fired evidence. These items are used to identify a firearm
or how many firearms were used at a shooting.
IBIS: Integrated Ballistic Identification System is a database used to help link
unsolved shooting cases.
Evidence submitted in toolmark cases may include tools such as bolt
cutters, screwdrivers, scissors, knives, pliers, crowbars, and saws.
Objects where toolmarks might be observed are varied (i.e. wire, sheet
metal, chains, padlocks, bolts, and doorknobs).
Toolmarks are scratches and/or impressions that are left on an object that
is softer than the object or tool that caused the marks. The unique and
individual imperfections on the tool surfaces that are transferred to the
softer surface of the damaged object can be used to make a positive
identification of the tool that may have been used to cause the striations or
indentations.
Minute scratches produced by tests made in the laboratory by the
questioned tool will be compared to the striations noted on the evidence
using the comparison microscope to determine whether or not the tool may
have caused the markings on the evidence.
concerned with determining if a bullet and/or cartridge case was fired by a
particular firearm. This determination requires the use of a comparison
microscope to microscopically examine fired evidence.
Firearms: Firearms are submitted as evidence for a number of different
reasons: operability, collection and microscopic examination of test fires
from a particular firearm to different types of fired evidence, serial number
restoration, trigger pull, ejection pattern studies, and the documentation of
any alterations to the firearm.
Fired Evidence: Fired bullets, discharged cartridge cases and shotgun shells
are examples of fired evidence. These items are used to identify a firearm
or how many firearms were used at a shooting.
IBIS: Integrated Ballistic Identification System is a database used to help link
unsolved shooting cases.
Evidence submitted in toolmark cases may include tools such as bolt
cutters, screwdrivers, scissors, knives, pliers, crowbars, and saws.
Objects where toolmarks might be observed are varied (i.e. wire, sheet
metal, chains, padlocks, bolts, and doorknobs).
Toolmarks are scratches and/or impressions that are left on an object that
is softer than the object or tool that caused the marks. The unique and
individual imperfections on the tool surfaces that are transferred to the
softer surface of the damaged object can be used to make a positive
identification of the tool that may have been used to cause the striations or
indentations.
Minute scratches produced by tests made in the laboratory by the
questioned tool will be compared to the striations noted on the evidence
using the comparison microscope to determine whether or not the tool may
have caused the markings on the evidence.
Firearms/Toolmarks
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |