MARKS F
OUND ON
TT HHEE F I RREED S H E L L
K S F O U N D O N D S H E LL
M A R
Group 4
Balanza, Kenneth
Bejasa, Cherlene G.
De Castro, Kenneth
Frago, Margielyn C.
Mercado, Ella Lorinne
ong, Kaidence Bethea A.
ormido, Justine Alh M.
CRIM 4-2
M A R K S
O T Y P ES OF
ARE T W
THERE
IMPRESSED ACTION MARKS
and
STRIATED ACTION MARKS
IMPRESSED ACTION MARKS
Impressed toolmarks (also called compression or
indentation marks) are produced when a tool is
placed against another object and sufficient
force is applied to the tool to leave an
impression. These impressions are contour
variations left on the surface of the object by
this interaction.
The two most common impressed action marks are
firing pin impressions and breech marks.
THE FIRING PIN IMPRESSIONS
These are indentations created when the firing
pin of a firearm strikes the primer of a centerfire
cartridge case or the rim of a rimfire cartridge
case. If the nose of the firing pin has
manufacturing imperfections or damage, these
potentially unique characteristics can be
impressed into the metal of the primer or the rim
of the cartridge case.
THE BREECH MARKS
Very high pressures are generated within a firearm
when a cartridge is discharged. These pressures
force the bullet from the cartridge case and down
the barrel at very high velocities. When a firearm
is discharged, the shooter will feel the firearm
jump rearward. This rearward movement of the
firearm is called recoil. When the head or base of
the cartridge case moves rearward, it strikes what
is called the breech face of the firearm.
STRIATED ACTION MARKS
Striated action marks are common to cartridge cases
that have passed through the action of an auto-
loading or repeating firearm. Striated action marks
can be produced on cartridge cases by contact with a
number of different areas within the firearm.
The Chamber Marks
Roughness in the chamber of a firearm can scratch
the outer walls of a cartridge case when loaded
and removed from the chamber. Most chamber marks
occur after the cartridge is fired. Cartridge
cases expand when fired pressing out against the
walls of the chamber. When they are pulled out of
the chamber, the sides of the cartridge case can be
scratched.
THE SHEAR MARKS
When a cartridge case is forced backward from
recoil the primer embeds itself in the firing pin
hole. As the slide of the pistol starts to recoil, the
barrel will drop slightly as the action opens. The
dropping barrel forces the cartridge case to move
down slightly and when this happens the lower edge
of the embedded primer is sheared downward and out
of the firing pin hole.
THE EXTRACTOR MARKS
The image below shows the extractor of a 9mm
GLOCK pistol hooked into the extractor
groove of a cartridge. As the slide of the
pistol moves to the rear, the extractor pulls
the cartridge case along with it until it is
ejected from the pistol.
THE MAGAZINE LIP MARKS
These markings are found near the rim
of the cartridge cases and are caused
by magazine lips during the loading
of the cartridges into the position of
firing.
FIRING PIN DRAG MARKS
When the firing pin springs forward to strike
the primer of a cartridge, it may remain slightly
forward and embedded in the primer. Certain
barrels (like in the GLOCK) drop down slightly as
recoil is forcing the action open. The cartridge
case drops with the barrel causing the nose of
the protruding firing pin to drag across the
primer as it leaves the firing pin impression.
THE EJECTOR MARKS
Ejector marks are sometimes created when
cartridges or cartridge cases are ejected from
the action of a firearm. Ejector marks can be
either striated or impressed, but the impressed
ejector marks not only can be used to identify a
cartridge case as having passed through a
firearm’s action they can also be an indication
that the cartridge case was fired in the
firearm.
The summary of the marks that can be found on the shell is
illustrated below:
These markings are the signature of a particular
firearm and will serve and remain as their
permanent identification.
THANK YOU!!!!
