AFTE Store - An After-Market Firing Pin’s Effect on Firing Pin Impressions

The use of after-market products for firearms can have a significant effect on firearms examinations. One such example pertains to the changes in class and individual characterisits associated with the use of an after-marked firing pin produced by Lightning Strike @ Inc. for large and small framed Glock firearms. Changes in firing pin marks were consistently found in all tests done in two (2) different caliber groups. The changes consisted of class characterisitics (firing pin drag marks) no longer being found on the cartridge cases after the Glock firing pins were replaced with the after marked strikers. As a consequence, the individual features often found in the firing pin drag mark, which are relied upon for identification, were also missing. The Lightning Strike firing pins, however, did imparat their own class and individual characterisitics. The consistent changes observed in Glock-type firing pin marks could provide examiners an opportunity to conclude such changes are indicative of a specific product’s usage. In future examinations, such information could have important consequences for criminal investigations involving firearm examinations.