Centre of Forensic Sciences Physical Sciences Firearms & Toolmarks

Firearms and ammunition are examined to:

• identify the type of weapon that fired a bullet or cartridge case;
• relate a bullet, slug or cartridge to a specific weapon;
• determine the mechanical condition of a firearm;
• measure muzzle velocities;
• establish if a weapon can be classified as a "firearm", a "restricted" or a "prohibited" weapon; and
• cross-reference firearms, fired projectiles, fired cartridge cases with items in unsolved investigations.

A toolmark, the characteristic mark left by a tool such as a hammer or a wrench on an object, can be related to a type of tool or, in some cases, to a specific tool.