Research and Development Assistantship

General Areas for Additional Research

The listings below are general topic areas within the firearm/toolmark discipline. Additional research within any of these areas would be beneficial for all examiners. This list is not all inclusive, but is provided in an attempt to stimulate ideas and interest. It is intended to provide a starting point for those who may desire to do a research project. The names of the individuals listed below the various topics are intended to be mentors and resource people who can be an excellent source for guidance in the research endeavor. They have agreed to assist individuals in varying capacities during the research process. Please feel free to contact them directly.

Ammunition

Rimfire vs. Centerfire

Bill Conrad, scenepro@yahoo.com,  (540) 898-3733

 

Cartridges Cases

Breechface
Firing Pin
Chamber Marks
Anvil Marks
Extractor marks
Ejector
Ejection Port
Feed/Loading marks
 

Nancy McCombs, nancy.mccombs@doj.ca.gov, (559) 294-4026

 

Bullets

Standard vs. Polygonal Rifling Imps.
 
Construction

John Finor, finjohn@aol.com,  (215) 685-3109

 

Toolmarks

Wood
Bunter marks

Jerry Miller, Gerald.Miller@atf.gov,  (404) 417-2716
 

Bone and Cartilage

Richard Ernest, rernest@e-gunlab.com,  (817) 228-6526

 

Tools (varied by manufacturing method and/or material)

Pry-type
Cutting-Type
Sawing-Type
Pinch-Type

Carlo Rosati, RosatiVA@aol.com,  (703) 632-7228  
 
 

Fracture Matches/Physical Fits

Bruce Moran, moranb@saccounty.net,  (916) 874-9240

 

Serial Number Restoration

Greg Klees, Greg.Klees@atf.gov,  (240) 264-3852

 

Gunshot Residues

Distance Determination
 
Composition of material to Identify as GSR

Jack Dillon, jhdillonjr@comcast.net,  (703) 791-5559

 

Bullet Trajectory Analysis

Scene Reconstruction
 
Ricochets

Mike Haag, mhaag@cabq.gov,  (505) 823-4256

 

Less Than Lethal

Rick Wyant, rick.wyant@wsp.wa.gov,  (206) 262-6043

 

General/Misc. Topic Areas

Jim Hamby, jhamby@indygov.org,  (317) 327-3670
Dom Denio, ddenio@leo.gov,  (703) 632-7380
 

Provided by the AFTE Research and Development Committee