AFTE Store - Weapon Wear As A Means Of Identification

It is reasonable to assume that a weapon that has been fired a great deal will show certain signs of wear that will not be present on new or infrequently fired weapons. Admittedly, assessment of wear is a rather arbitrary process. It is felt, however, that under certain circumstances, particularly if a decision has to be made regarding “well-fired” vs. “new”, the process has a great deal of potential value, and it is one that we, as firearms examiners, often overlook. This particular case involved the defense offering a used firearm that they claimed was involved, but with a new barrel and firing pin, and an altered breech face instead of the supposed firearm that was extensively used.