1. Syracuse University June, 2010
Firearms and Toolmarks

2. Forensic Firearm Analysis
WALLIE HOWARD JR.
CENTER FOR FORENSIC SCIENCES
Matthew Kurimsky
Firearms Examiner

3. FORENSIC FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
A scientific process of determining whether a bullet or cartridge case was fired from a particular weapon. This is done by examining and evaluating the class and individual characteristics imparted onto the bullet or cartridge case.

4. FIREARMS SECTION FIREARM IDENTIFICATION OPERABILITY ANALYSIS
FIREARM COMPARISONS
PHYSICAL MATCH COMPARISONS
IBIS ENTRIES
SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATION
GUNSHOT RESIDUE DISTANCE DETERMINATION

5. FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
Can determine the general condition of a firearm and whether the firearm is mechanically functional.
Can determine whether the firearm was altered to fire in full-automatic mode.
Can be test fired to obtain known specimens for comparison to evidence ammunition components.

6. HOMEMADE

8. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Are measurable features of a specimen that indicate a restricted group source.
Result from design factors, and are determined prior to manufacture.
Examples are firing pin shape, caliber, and general rifling characteristics.

10. Breech face of a firearm.
Arch breech face marks.
Breech face of a firearm.

11. RIFLING
Helical grooves in the bore of a firearm barrel to impart rotary motion to a projectile.

12. Rifling

13. COMMON TYPES OF RIFLING
BROACH RIFLING:
Cuts the grooves by being pushed or pulled through the barrel while being rotated.
BUTTON RIFLING: Pushed or pulled through a drilled and reamed barrel so as to cold form the spiral grooves to the desired depth and twist. NOT a cutting process.

14. GENERAL RIFLING CHARACTERISTICS
The number, width and direction of twist of the rifling grooves in a barrel of a given caliber firearm.

15. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
Marks produced by the random imperfections or irregularities of tool surfaces.
These random imperfections or irregularities are produced incidental to manufacture and/or caused by use, corrosion, or damage.
They are unique to that tool and distinguish it from all other tools.

16. COMPARISON MICROSCOPE
Optically bridged so objects can be viewed side by side.

17. CARTRIDGE CASE OR SHOTSHELL EXAMINATION
Cartridge case examination can determine the caliber or gauge, and the manufacturer.
The images of questioned cartridge cases can be entered into IBIS to compare with evidence from other shooting incidents.
The microscopic characteristics of evidence cartridge cases can be examined to determine whether they were fired in a specific firearm.

18. CARTRIDGE CASING IDENTIFICATION
Parallel breech face marks.

19. Circular breech face marks. Granular breech face marks.

20. FIRING PIN
Firing pin impression.
Firing pin drag mark.

21. OTHER MARKS
Ejector marks.
Extractor marks.

22. BULLET EXAMINATIONS
Bullets can be examined to determine the general rifling characteristics.
The microscopic characteristics on evidence bullets can be compared to test-fired bullets from a suspect firearm to determine whether the evidence bullet was fired from that firearm.

23. SHOOTING TANK

24. Bullet comparisons
The gun barrel is produced from a solid bar of steel that has been hollowed out by drilling
The microscopic drill marks left on the barrel inner surface are randomly irregular and would in themselves serve to impart a uniqueness to each barrel.
Manufacturers make the inner surface of the barrel with spiral groves, a step known as rifling

25. Bullet comparisons Why rifling in a barrel?
Prevents the bullet from tumbling when it leaves the barrel, more accuracy.

26. Bullet comparisons
The diameter of the gun barrel is measured between opposite lands, this is known as the caliber of the weapon. It is usually expressed in hundredths of an inch (.22) or millimeters (9mm)
Caliber - the diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm.

27. Bullet comparisons
Every firearms manufacturer chooses a rifling process that is best suited to meet the production standards and requirements of its product.
Once the choice is made, the class characteristics of the weapons barrel will remain consistent; each will have the same number of lands and grooves, the same approximate width and directions of twist.

28. Bullet comparisons Ex:
.32 caliber Smith & Wesson revolvers have five lands and grooves twisting to the right
Ex:
.32 caliber Colt revolvers exhibit six lands and grooves twisting to the left

29. Bullet comparisons
There are fine lines or striations, many running the length of the barrel’s lands and grooves.
These are caused by minute imperfections found on the rifling cutter’s surface or they are produced by minute chips of steel pushed against the barrel’s inner surface.
The fact is that the random distribution and irregularities of these markings are impossible to duplicate exactly in any two barrels.

30. Bullet comparisons
No two rifled barrels, even those manufactured in succession, will have identical striation markings!
These striations form the individual characteristics of the barrel.
The number of lands and grooves, and their direction of twist are obvious points of comparison during initial stages of the examination

31. Bullet comparisons
By comparing the lands and grooves and directions of twist, we can eliminate certain weapons.
The most important tool for the firearms examiner is the comparison microscope.

32. COMARISON MICROSCOPE

33. Bullet comparisons
The striations of the bullet are lined up and compared

35. BULLET IDENTIFICATION

36. Bullet comparisons With shotguns, most barrels are smooth
The diameter of the shotgun barrel is expressed by the term gauge
Gauge - the number of lead balls with the same diameter as the barrel that would make a pound
ex: 20 ga = diameter of lead ball weighing
1/20th of a pound
Exception to this is 410 gauge, actually is .410 inch diameter

37. PHYSICAL MATCH COMPARISON
Physical match comparison can determine whether evidence was joined together and subsequently broken apart.

38. Copper jacket fragment. Projectile jacket separation.

39. MATCH
Stria match.
Fragment match.

40. INTEGRATED BALLISTICS IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (IBIS)
Images of projectiles and cartridge casings recovered from the crime scene, or produced from evidence weapons are entered into the database and searched.
Used to link multiple crimes to a single weapon.

41. Potential hits are compared to one another by a firearms examiner on a comparison microscope.
Hits are NOT made by simply looking at the images in IBIS.

42. SHOT PELLETS, BUCK SHOT, OR SLUGS
Examination of shot pellets, buck shot, or slugs can determine the size of the shot or the gauge of the slug, and the manufacturer.

43. SHOTSHELL COMPONENTS

44. 00 BUCK

45. WADDING EXAMINATIONS
Examinations of wadding components can determine the gauge and the manufacturer.

46. UNFIRED CARTRIDGES OR SHOTSHELLS
Examinations of unfired cartridges or shotshells can determine the caliber or gauge and whether there are marks of value for comparison.
Examinations can also determine whether the ammunition was loaded into and extracted from a specific firearm.
Unfired and fired cartridges or shotshells can be associated through manufacturing marks.

47. SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATIONS
Obliterated and/or altered firearm serial numbers can sometimes be restored.
Chemical, electrolytic, and magnetic particle inspection are some of the methods used.

48. Before restoration.
After restoration.

52. FIRING RANGE

53. Gunpowder residues
The accuracy of a distance determination varies according to the circumstances of the case
Because the spread and density of the residue pattern will vary widely between weapons and ammunition.

54. Gunpowder residues
A COMPARISON IS SIGNIFICANT ONLY WHEN IT IS MADE WITH THE SUSPECT WEAPON AND AMMUNITION OR AMMUNITION OF THE SAME MAKE AND TYPE

55. Contact Pattern Shotgun

56. Gunpowder residues
Items that influence estimating target distance (amt. Of gunpowder residue)
Barrel length
Caliber
type of ammunition
Type and condition of the weapon fired

57. Gunpowder residues Tests done on garments in the lab
Examine microscopically for presence
of gunpowder residue
Nitrite test - greis test
Sodium rhodizoante test (lead)
Greis test - a chemical test to develop patterns of
gun powder residues around bullet holes

58. Victims Clothing

59. 3 inch Test Pattern

60. DISTANCE DETERMINATION

61. SODIUM RHODIZONATE TEST
Tests for the presence of lead.
Converts lead to lead rhodizonate.

62. GRIESS TEST Tests for the presence of nitrites.
Converts nitrites to nitrates.

63. PRIMER RESIDUE ON HANDS

64. During the firing process.
GSR
During the firing process.
GSR particle.

65. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Toolmarks
Defined as any impression, cut, gouge, or abrasion
caused by a tool coming into contact with another
object
USUALLY THERE WILL BE
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
SIZE
SHAPE

66. Sometimes nicks and wear patterns will individualize a tool
Toolmarks
Sometimes nicks and wear patterns will individualize a tool
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE HARD TO IDENTIFY BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF DUPLICATING THE TOOL MARK IN THE LAB

67. Toolmarks

68. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE Toolmarks
MUST THE CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR ATTEMPT TO FIT THE SUSPECT TOOL INTO THE TOOL MARK

69. Toolmarks
BEAR IN MIND THAT THE TOOL OR IMPRESSION MAY CONTAIN VALUABLE TRACE EVIDENCE

70. Matthew Kurimsky – Firearms Examiner
QUESTIONS?
Matthew Kurimsky – Firearms Examiner
firearms unit