PUNJAB FORENSIC SCIENCE AGENCY

HOME DEPARTMENT
GOVT. OF PUNJAB

www.pfsa.gov.pk
pmusdi@gmail.com
FIREARMS & TOOLMARKS
EXAMINATION
By

AURANGZAIB AHMAD
Firearm and Toolmark Department
Firearms Identification
Often confused with the term
ballistics

Ballistics is the study of a

projectile in motion.
Inside the firearm
After it leaves the firearm
When it impacts the target
Firearms Identification
Forensic firearms examinations are based
on firearms identification, which involves
the identification of a bullet, cartridge
case, or other ammunition component as
having been fired by or in a particular
firearm
Firearms Identification
Identification of Firearms is
based upon this basic idea:

A harder object marks a softer

one & imparts/transfers its
microscopic irregularities to
that object.
Forensic Firearms Expert
Did a suspect use this gun to kill that
person?
Did these bullets come from that gun?
Was it really self-defense?
Is this a case of suicide, or is foul play
involved?
Forensic Firearms Expert
Bullet Comparison
Weapons Function
Is it safe? Has it been modified?
Serial Number Restoration
Gunpowder Residue Detection
on clothes, hands, & wounds
Muzzle-to-Target Distances
Firing Process
Parts of a Handgun
Bullet Anatomy
Caliber
The diameter of the gun barrel.
Caliber is recorded in
hundredths of an inch (.22 & .38)
millimeters (9mm)
How we Link Bullets to Guns?

Rifling
in
Barrel
of Gun
Questions Answered by Firearms
Examiners

Whether this bullet was fired

by this pistol or not?
Bullet Comparisons
Each gun leaves distinct markings on a bullet
passing through it.

A gun barrel is made from a solid bar of steel

that has been drilled/hallowed out.

The drill leaves microscopic marks on the

barrels inner surface.
Bullet Comparisons
Gun manufacturers also add spiral grooves
to the barrel. This is known as rifling.

Lands: the space between the grooves.

As a spinning bullet passes through the barrel,

it is marked by these grooves.
Class Characteristics
Once a manufacturer chooses a rifling process, for
a particular class of weapon, they keep it
consistent.

Lands & Grooves are the same for a model.

.32 caliber Smith & Wesson has 5 lands & grooves
twisting to the right.
.32 caliber Colt has 6 lands & grooves twisting to the left.

Class characteristics can eliminate certain makes

but are not enough to ID a particular gun.
Examples of Class Characteristics
Known Source: Questioned Item:
Rifling Bullet
Individual Characteristics
Imperfections in the manufacturing process
make each barrel unique.

Rifled barrels, even if made in succession will

NOT have identical striation (scratch-like
marks).
Bullet Comparisons
To match bullets to a gun, test bullets
must be fired through a suspect barrel
for comparison.

Goddard & Comparison

Microscopes
Examined bullets side-by-side (to
match striated markings).
Pulling the Trigger
Pulling the trigger releases the firing pin
The firing pin strikes the primer
The primer ignites the gun powder
The powder generates gas that propels the
bullet forward through the barrel & ejects
the spent cartridge case.
-

Louise Walzer, JPSO Crime Lab

-

Louise Walzer, JPSO Crime Lab

Bullet Identification (Class
Characteristics)
Bullet Striation Agreement for an
Identification (Individual Characteristics)
Which of these bullets were fired from this revolver?
 Which bullet was fired from which pistol?
Markings Produced by a Firearm are
as Unique as Human Fingerprints
 Which of these cartridge case were fired in this pistol?
Whether this shotshell was fired by this shotgun or not?
Cartridge Markings
All moving components contact the
cartridge rather than the bullet can
leave useful impressions on shell
cartridges
Breechface marks
Firing pin impressions
Chamber marks
Extractor & Ejector markings
Firing Pin Marks
Chamber Marks
Breechface Marks
Actual Breech Marks
Actual Breechface
Marks
Cartridge Case Identification
Two Fired Cartridge Cases as
Viewed with a Comparison
Microscope
Bullets, Cartridge Cases
and Shotshells Fired
from a Single Firearm
can be Identified
What was distance of victim from firearm when he was shot?

How to determine?
2 feet 4 feet 6 feet 8 feet
Louise Walzer, JPSO Crime Lab
Others
Bullet entry and exit
side in glass

Possible Trajectory
Finding

Expert Opinions
[Firearms Function,
Ricochet, Home made
(improvised) Firearms or
any unusual situation]
Ricochet
A ricochet is a
rebound,
bounce or skip
off a surface,
particularly in
the case of a
projectile.
Improvised Firearm
Device
Improvised Firearm
 Philosophy of Firearms
Identification
The gun speaks. and message
of the gun is there to read by one
who knows the language.

G.G Kelly (New Zealand Police Officer)

GSR Analysis(Distance Determination)
GSR Analysis
When a shot is fired, flame, soot, burned and
unburned or partially burned gunpowder, gases,
and vaporized metallic particles go thorough the
gun barrel with the bullet

These residues reach different distances and are

deposited on target, depending on a variety of
factors.

Using this we can determine the muzzle to target

distance.
Gunshot Residue
(GSR)
GSR Sources:
victim, clothing or target
shooters hands
Gunpowder Chemistry
Major detectable elements are:
lead (Pb), barium (Ba) & antimony
(Sb)
Virtually all cartridge cases are
made of brass (copper & zinc); also
Shotguns
Smooth barrel
Projectile NOT marked as it
passes through
Fire small lead balls or pellets
contained within a shell.
Characterized by:
diameter of the shot
size & shape of the wad
Gauge: diameter of the barrel
( gauge diameter)
Shot Pattern Analysis
(Distance Determination)

Distance from
which a shotgun
is fired can be
determined by
shot pattern
analysis
Shotgun
SERIAL NUMBER
RESTORATION
When a serial number is stamped into a gun,
the metal underneath the number is
compressed & hardened.
If the number is filed-off, the hardened area
may still be present.
By using an acid solution the metal can be
slowly eaten away.
In this process the softer metal will be eaten away
first and the number may reappear.
Serial Number Restoration
Criminal activity involving theft or illegal
use of firearms, motor vehicle may cause
an offender to remove identifying data.
Through use of chemical and physical
restoration techniques, the numbers can
sometimes be made readable again.
Restored Serial
Number
Serial Number Restoration

Historically, serial numbers are successfully

restored 63% of the time on steel & 54% of the
time for aluminum or zinc.
Before ( Actual Case)
Before
After

CE100~9004972
TOOLMARKS EXAMINATION

A tool will bear unique microscopic

characteristics due to the manufacturing
processes.

Toolmark identification is the process of

identifying tools on the bases of toolmarks
occurring due to its use.
Application of Toolmarks
Examination

Toolmarks left on a surface can be identified

as having been produced by a particular tool.
Toolmarks identification can play a vital role
in the cases of
Theft
Burglary etc.
Toolmark
Identification
 IBIS Link Different Incidents

(Integrated Ballistic Identification System)

Solution of cold cases

Ballistics imaging and identification system

Bullets or cartridge cases fired from same gun can

be identified even years after

So a cold case can be solved even years after

 Link Different Incidents
(especially terrorist activities)

Firearms Examiners can help out in linking

different incidents by matching ammunition
components.
This will narrow down the investigation and
will definitely help to solve more mysteries.
How we can use the
Firearms Examiners in Bomb
Blast Case
Serial Number Restoration
Any devices or equipment found at bomb
blast scene can be sent to firearms examiners
for possible serial number restoration. This
helps a lot in tracing the culprits.
Firearms department of the PFSA successfully
restored the tampered engine number of the
tractor used in a massive Quetta Bomb Blast.
How we can use the Firearms
Examiners in Bomb Blast Case
Toolmarks Examination

The cuttings of the wires or any other material

may be sent to forensic firearms examiners
for possible match of toolmarks with the tool
recovered from the suspect.
THANK YOU