AFTE Store - Identification of Production Toolmarks Inside Cartridge Cases

In many crimes where a firearm has been used, the weapon used cannot lead to a possible offender if the weapon has been hidden or lost. However, if cartridges are found during the search of a suspect’s residence, a comparison of the cartridge cases from a crime scene can be performed using production toolmarks. As a result, a firearms examiner can determine if these cartridges originate from the same production line, within a relatively short period of time. Although the toolmarks can be used as a supplemental analysis which increases the strength of the evidence, it cannot be used to prove that cartridge cases from a crime scene are the same as those found in subsequent searches of a suspect. As a result, a match of these marks merely increases the probability cartridges come from the same production line. Here, we will look at some of the tool marks that are left during the commercial production of cartridge cases. In particular, we will look at 2 or 3 distinct process which leave evidentiary traces that can be used for forensic identification of fired and unfired cartridge cases.