AFTE Store - The Effects of Fire Damage on the Ability to Make Identifications Part II: Cartridge Cases

The purpose of this research was to determine whether a firearm will retain sufficient individual microscopic markings to allow an identification to be made after it has been subjected to a fire. Two pistols, having different metallurgical properties, were subjected to a controlled fire. The firearms were removed from the fire debris, cleaned and examined for comparative purposes. Both firearms were test fired before the fire and they were again test fired after the burn utilizing four types of ammunition in both instances. In Part I of this research, bullets were examined and compared for identification purposes. In Part II of this research, the cartridge cases were analyzed and compared for identification purposes.