AFTE Store - James-Younger Gang Member’s Revolver Examined for Gunshot Residue (GSR) with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

An examination of Charlie Pitts’ .44 Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian revolver used in the Northfield Bank raid of 1876 was examined for GSR. Samples were taken with aluminum stubs in front of and behind the cylinder. Using 100% cotton patches, samples were collected from each of the cylinder’s chambers and barrel. Also, six vintage .44 caliber Russian cartridges were obtained for testing and comparison to the GSR samples collected from the revolver. Only two of the six vintage cartridges fired when tested; however, five elements, copper, lead, potassium, silicon and sodium found in the GSR of the revolver were also found in the GSR of the fired vintage cartridges. Two of the five elements, copper and lead, found on the revolver were also found in the metal of the bullets. There were other metals identified in the bullet that were not in the GSR. After one-hundred and thirty-two years, the examination for GSR components revealed that two elements, copper and lead, were found on the revolver. When the vintage ammunition was fired, the same two elements were found in the vintage ammunition.