AFTE Store - Validation Study of Electrochemical Rifling

Electrochemical machining is being used by Smith & Wesson to rifle many of its revolver barrels. This paper provides a description of this manufacturing process and a study that was conducted to evaluate whether or not these barrels will mark bullets in a repeatable and unique manner. This validation study of firearms/toolmarks identification as it applies to electrochemical rifling found that this manufacturing technique does produce unique, reproducible, and identifiable microscopic marks.