AFTE Store - A Historical Perspective of Firearms Reference Collections: Their Size, Composition, and Uses

Historically, little information has been published concerning the acquisition, composition or uses of Firearms Reference Collections (FRC) (2) or Firearms Reference Libraries (FRL) (3) in forensic science laboratories throughout the world. A review of historical literature, primarily from the United States, pertaining to these collections was initiated. Additionally, an extensive survey was carried out to ascertain how many forensic science laboratories have such collections, how laboratories initiated their collections, the uses are made of them, and the views of examiners about replacing (or augmenting) them with photographic or digital images available through modern information technology. It was found that the vast majority of laboratories with a firearms section have a reference collection and virtually all the remainder have access to one. It was also determined that the majority of firearms examiners feel the absolute requirement for these collections within their own laboratory, especially for training new firearms examiners, conducting research in firearms identification, and for repair of evidence firearms. Examiners were also prepared to consider using images to augment their firearms reference collections.