FRSC 1011: Firearms, Tool Marks and Other Impressions

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts from the FRSC 1011 lecture on firearms, tool marks, and related forensic evidence.

Firearm

A weapon that discharges a projectile by the action of an explosive.

Caliber

The diameter of the gun barrel, measured between opposite lands.

Grooves

Spiral indentations inside a rifle's barrel that guide the bullet and impart spin.

Lands

The raised portions between the grooves in a rifled barrel.

Striations

Fine lines found on a bullet caused by the barrel's imperfections.

Tool Mark

Any impression, cut, gouge, or abrasion caused by a tool coming into contact with another object.

Rifling

The process of impressing spiral grooves into a barrel to improve the accuracy of the projectile.

Gunpowder Residue

Unburned and partially burned particles dispersed during the discharge of a firearm.

Primer Residue

Traces of gunpowder and primer materials found on the shooter's hand after firing a weapon.

Comparison Microscope

A microscope designed to compare two specimens simultaneously to detect similarities in firearm examination.

Serial Numbers

Unique identifiers assigned to firearms that may be restored if removed.

Shotgun Gauge

A measurement of the shotgun's barrel diameter, with higher numbers indicating a smaller diameter.

Ejector

The mechanism in a firearm that throws a cartridge or fired case from the firearm.

Extractor

The mechanism in a firearm that withdraws a cartridge or fired case from the firing chamber.

Individualization

The process in forensic investigation aimed at linking evidence to a single source.

Bore

The interior of the barrel of a firearm.

Microscopic Imaging Technology

Technology used to store and analyze bullet and cartridge surface characteristics, similar to fingerprint databases.