Firearm and toolmark identification criteria: a review of the literature, part II.
An update to a previously published review of articles pertaining to firearm and toolmark identification criteria is presented. In this update, 22 additional articles were reviewed, including works of a general nature, studies critically assessing the theory of consecutive matching striations, empirical studies involving various firearm components, toolmark studies, as well as articles discussing the utility of statistics in the firearms and toolmark identification discipline. These articles have been reviewed in a format to permit others to learn what has been published in the field in an effort to educate interested parties. Further, a discussion of the importance of articulation and communication within the discipline is presented.
Nichols
Ronald G
RG
ATF Forensic Science Laboratory, San Francisco, CA, USA. rgnichols@sfdi.atf.treas.gov