AFTE Call for Assistance Archive 3

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2/13/2001

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Call for Assistance

Call for Assistance Archives 3

The following "Calls for Assistance" posts are for the most part closed. If you see something that you recognize the submitter would welcome your additional input.

The Little Devil (posted 5/22/03)
Unknown 9mm Luger Cartridge Case (posted 5/19/03)
Lead GSR Testing On Carpet (posted 5/9/03)
Pinfire Pistol (posted 5/2/03)
Cartridge Case ID (posted 4/19/03)
Unusual Cartridges (posted 4/4/03)

The Little Devil

The following rimfire cartridge case was recently submitted to our
laboratory requesting identification. The case is flattened and the head is blown out, but there are remnants of the Winchester Super-X headstamp on the outer edges of the head. Because of the deformation, it is difficult to distinguish caliber, but it appears to be consistent with the 22 to 27 range. The overall length of what remains is approximately 0.5 inches.

There is a scored line around the circumference of the case body and evenly spaced scored lines at the mouth reminiscent of a star-crimped or a blank load. Additionally, one side of the case body bears a very peculiar mark. The mark resembles an "evil smiley face" with the top edges of the eyes continuing onto and connecting on the backside of the case.

(click image for larger view)

I've included a side-by-side size comparison photo with standard 22 caliber cartridges as well as 22 and 27 caliber powder actuated tool loads from our SAF.

(click image for larger view)

I've contacted Winchester and they have assured me that this is not their doing. It could be a custom job or just someone with too much time on their hands, but the mark is very uniform in its depth and design. Any help in the identification of this cartridge would be much appreciated.

Caution: Staring at this image for long periods of time may cause one to think impure thoughts!

David C. Wright (for an impure thought click David's name-Scott)
Firearm & Toolmark Section
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Kansas City, KS

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Unknown Cartridge Case

I have a 9 mm cartridge case that has the ejector mark and the breechface marks as show in the photographs below.

(click image for larger view)

Nothing in our reference collection is similar. Any assistance in identifying the possible MAKE/MODEL of firearm would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Firearms Examiner
Leopoldo Gonzalez
Bogota, D. C., COLOMBIA

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Lead GSR Testing On Carpet?

I have a sample of green carpet with a couple of defects in it and am conducting GSR testing. After processing for lead residue a nice big purple color change comes up. It was one of the biggest areas I have ever seen.

(Click image for larger view)

I get suspicious and get my technical reviewer, Mr. Ron Crumley, in and ask him to look at what I had just developed. We decided to process a control area of the carpet and it also comes up just like questioned area but only a lighter purple.

At this point Mr. Crumley and I put the components of the Rhodizonate tests in separate beakers and apply each to the carpet in separate areas. The following results were observed:

The 15% Acetic acid- no color change

The Sodium Rhodizonate solution- slight yellowing but disappears.

The buffer solution- no color change.

The 5% HCL solution turned the area into the prettiest purple area.

(Click image for larger view)

Questions:

Has anyone ever seen this phenomena associated with the lead test?

Could it be the dye in the carpet?

Could it be a cleaning agent or additive on the carpet?

Is there any published data documenting this change with acids to dyes coloration changes on other types of material?

Thanks for your help in advance,

Tim Counce
Firearm & Toolmark Examiner
DPS/Crime Lab/Austin

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Pinfire Pistol

Our lab recently received for addition to our reference collection, a .41 caliber pinfire pistol with 16 L&G and a right hand twist. The only marking other than the engraving, is the number "2" on the bottom strap in front of the trigger, under the barrel, and two places on the locking lever. The pistol does not appear to be a reproduction.

(click images for larger view)

Any help in identifying this firearm would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Allen B. Greenspan
Criminalist III
Broward Co. Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory

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Cartridge Case ID

I have a 9mm cartridge case that has parallel striations running from 3:00 to 9:00 with the extractor positioned at 3:00 as shown in the photograph.

(click image for larger view)

Nothing in our reference collection is similar. Any assistance in identifying the possible make/model of firearm would be appreciated.

Dick Klocko
Oregon State Police Crime Lab

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Unusual Cartridges

We recently received some unusual ammunition with a case. The cartridges are .40 S&W caliber with Winchester headstamps. The bullets consisted of a copper cup containing eight pellets in an epoxy-like substance. Four #2 lead pellet were seated at the bottom of the jacket with four #4 pellets on top of those. The #4 pellets were either plated or made of an alloy. Neither pellet type was found to be attracted to a magnet.

George Kass contacted me and said the cartridges may be made by MagSafe in Casselberry, FL.

I can’t find a real good picture on their webpage and the bullet weight seems to be off by a few grains.

Here is a link to info on the MagSafe ammo:

http://www.impactsites2000.com/site3/magsafe.htm

I shot one into our water tank and it fragged also immediately. I found the jacket pieces about two and a half feet down the tank.

If anyone knows of similar bullets made by anyone other than MagSafe your feedback would be very helpful.

Thanks,

Lawrence Pilcher
Firearm Examiner Trainee
Rhode Island Crime Lab

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