AFTE Store - The History of Firearm and Toolmark Identification

The history of how the science of fireann and toolmark identification has evolved over the past 165 years is extremely interesting to many forensic scientists performing duties as firearm and toolmark examiners. It was thought that a study of this history would be of value for those examiners that have an interest in this history. Reference material and literature available to the authors, some of which was provided by other firearm and toolmark examiners over the past several years, was researched to provide the data for this article. We are keenly aware that a considerable amount of additional historical data, concerning the history of firearm and toolmark identification, exists in files assembled and maintained by other forensic scientists, especially in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Central America, and South America. We would respectfully request that copies of any historical information that you have available to you be sent to the authors to allow for future revised information on this subject.