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The Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners

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Member's Area - Machining & Subclass -
Manufacturing Methods - Hammer Forging

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← Back to Manufacturing Methods

Video





Images


Mandrel


Mandrel Detail


Glock Polygonal Rifling


HK Polygonal


Mandrel Casting


Mandrel Casting


Ruger 10 22 Barrel To Muzzle Cast Comparison


Ruger 10 22 LI 1 to 1


Ruger 10 22 LI 2 to 1


Ruger 10 22 LI3 to 1


Ruger 10 22 LI4 to 1


Ruger 10 22 LI5 to 1


Ruger 10 22 LI6 to 1


Ruger 10 22 LI at Muzzle


Ruger 10 2 LI Muzzle to Chamber Comparison

Related Class Characteristics


Parallel


Cross-Hatch


Rings (Barrel)

Related Tools


Barrel

Definition

Reduced Potential for Subclass Carryover**

Hammer forging – Forging in which the work is deformed by repeated blows. In barrel making – the formation of spiral grooves in the bore of a barrel by means of inserting a mandrel with a rifling configuration into the barrel blank. The outer surface of the barrel is machine hammered, forcing the barrel material down against the mandrel causing the inner surface of the barrel to take on the shape of the mandrel.

Typically, hammer forged barrels will impart a unique, striated pattern on the surface of a bullet due to:

  1. A random, imperfect surface found within the rifling created during the hammer forging process – as the barrel is compressed around the mandrel, it is stretched/elongated, thus creating individual characteristics.
  2. The hammer forging does not completely destroy previous machining marks created during the manufacturing process that do create impart individual characteristics on a bullet surface – drilling, reaming, and/or honing marks.

**However, special attention should be given to hammer forged barrels created using mandrels that were shaped using a grinding process which may impart a repeating pattern. The rifling in barrels created using these mandrels will potentially display the same pattern, thus qualifying as subclass characteristics. Therefore, bullets fired through these barrels MAY display a similar striated pattern.  Any individual characteristics created imparted on the bullet surface fired through these barrels will be from another source.

Related AFTE Journal Articles

  • Glock Marking Barrels – An Evaluation of Individual and Subclass Characteristics 2016 Volume 48, Number 3 (Summer), Page 169 thru 172 - Review
  • Rifling Methods of Factory Fitted 9 mm Luger (9 x 19 mm) Pistol Barrels: A Reference Resource - Review
  • Polygonal Rifling - Review
  • Heckler & Koch Polygonal Rifling - Review
  • Bullet Identification From H&K USP Polygonal Barrels - Review
  • Individual Characteristics Criteria - Review
  • The Miami Barrel Saga Continues - Review
  • Glock Experiments with New Prototype Rifling Method Barrel - Review
  • An Introduction to the Forensic Examination of Toolmarks - Review
  • Subclass Characteristics: From Origin to Evaluation - Review
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The Association of Firearm
and Tool Mark Examiners

About AFTE

  • What is AFTE?
  • Board of Directors
  • Committees
  • Bylaws
  • Code of Ethics
  • Policy Letters
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • AFTE Position Documents
  • Scholarship Endowment Fund
  • Past Presidents & Awards Recipients

Membership

  • Become a Member
  • International
  • Assistance

AFTE Journal

  • What is AFTE Journal?
  • Peer Review Process
  • Want to Publish?
  • Find an Article
  • Subscriptions

Certification

  • Certification Policies & Procedures
  • Recertification Policies & Procedures
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Resources

  • Forum
  • Glossary
  • Admissibility Resource Kit (ARK)
  • Headstamp Gallery
  • Training Seminar Presentation Index
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  • AFTE 2025
  • Prospective Host Info

Scholarship Program
Research & Development

AFTE Store

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  • Certification Payments
  • Training Seminar Media
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