Striated Action Marks

The purpose of crime scene investigation is to help establish what happened (crime scene reconstruction) and to identify the responsible person. This is done by carefully documenting the conditions at a crime scene and recognizing all relevant physical evidence. The ability to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is oftentimes critical to both solving and prosecuting violent crimes.

Ballistics: The Science of Guns

Briefly, firearms these days are of two basic types: hand-held and shoulder. Of hand-held pistols, there are single-shot or multiple-shot, like revolvers and self-loading pistols. Shoulder firearms have long barrels and include rifles, machine repeaters, and smoothbore shotguns. There are many variations on these basic types.

Cartridge Case Identification

Like bullets, cartridge cases can be identified as having been fired by a specific firearm. As soon as cartridges are loaded into a firearm the potential for the transfer of unique tool marks exists. However, the cartridge does not have to be fired for these marks to be transferred. Simply loading a cartridge into a firearm can cause unique identifiable marks that can be later identified.

Firearms Tutorial

This tutorial is designed to give you a working knowledge of the types of firearms, the types of ammunition used, the nature of injuries that can be produced in the body, and the investigative techniques employed by the forensic pathologist in assessing firearms injuries.

Fundamentals of Firearms ID

Studies have shown that no two firearms, even those of the same make and model, will produce the same unique marks on fired bullets and cartridge cases. Manufacturing processes, use, and abuse leave surface characteristics within the firearm that cannot be exactly reproduced in other firearms.