NCJ Number
10416
Date Published
1962
Length
415 pages
Annotation
PRINCIPLES AND LABORATORY PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING HANDGUNS FROM FIRED BULLETS AND CARTRIDGES, THE RIFLING CHARACTERISTICS OF 2300 GUNS, AND OTHER WEAPONS DATA.
Abstract
IN FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION, DR MATHEWS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF WEAPONS DATA FROM THE PRINCIPLES AND LABORATORY PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING HANDGUNS FROM FIRED BULLETS AND CARTRIDGES TO THE RIFLING CHARACTERISTICS OF 2300 GUNS. THE SECTION ON LABORATORY PROCEDURES INCLUDES DESCRIPTIONS OF METHODS OF RIFLING, CRIME LABORATORY INSTRUMENTATION, FIREARMS PHOTOGRAPHY, METHODS FOR RESTORING SERIAL NUMBERS, AND A CHAPTER ON COMMON PITFALLS IN WEAPONS IDENTIFICATION. THE MEASUREMENTS OF RIFLING CHARACTERISTICS ARE THE RESULT OF AN EXTENSIVE RESEARCH EFFORT BY THE AUTHOR. SINCE RIFLING SPECIFICATIONS BY MANUFACTURERS ARE OFTEN INCOMPLETE OR EVEN NONEXISTENT, THE AUTHOR PERSONALLY MEASURED THE RIFLING IN 2300 GUNS FROM 23 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THE RESULTING DATA ON WIDTH OF LANDS, WIDTH AND NUMBER OF RIFLING GROOVES, TWIST OF RIFLING, AND DIAMETER OF BORE AND GROOVES IS INVALUABLE TO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR. THE NOTES ON AUTOMATIC PISTOLS CONTAIN A VARIETY OF USEFUL INFORMATION INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS OF FIRING PIN IMPRESSIONS, LISTS OF PISTOL MANUFACTURERS, TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING CALIBER FROM THE WEIGHT OF BULLETS, AND A TRANSLATION OF AN IMPORTANT GERMAN ARTICLE ON THE CLASS CHARACTERISTICS OF SHELL MARKINGS. VOLUMES II AND III OF THIS WORK PRESENT ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS OF HANDGUNS ALONG WITH DATA ON RIFLING CHARACTERISTICS (SEE NCJ 010417 AND 010862). THIS IS A 1973 PRINTING OF THE FIRST EDITION. (SNI ABSTRACT)