HOME > BLOGS > BALLISTIC
The History of Forensic Ballistics -
Ballistic Fingerprinting
SHARE NOW!
Ballistics…sounds like a pretty bombastic word to us plebeians, isn’t it? Well, simply put, ballistics is the
study of the ight path of projectiles. And when used in criminal investigations, forensic ballistics or
ballistic ngerprinting (also called forensic rearm examination) helps in the reconstruction of a crime
scene involving a rearm. It also enables the tracing of the weapon used and thus provides signi cant
leads to identify the suspect(s). Forensic ballistic relies heavily on evidence such as bullets, gunpowder
residues, shell casings, rearms, etc. recovered from the crime scene.
Forensic ballistic professionals are adept at examining such evidence to draw conclusive inferences on
the exact weapon used, the distance, velocity, and angle of ring, and ultimately the shooter himself. In
crime scene investigations, forensic ballistics has now become synonymous with the matching of the
recovered bullets and their casings to the rearms from which they were discharged. However, while
the modern-day crime drama series may make the application of such techniques look quite
contemporary, the fact is that such ballistic work has its roots way back in time.
First Use of Ballistics in Forensics
Before the mass manufacturing of guns began, barrels and bullet molds were handmade by
gunsmiths. Thus, the exclusivity of each rearm was unavoidable. This meant that the bullets red
always bore some exclusive impressions which were unique to a speci c rearm. Thus began the rst
instances of the careful examination of a bullet in order to trace it back to the gun used to re it. And
this laid the foundation of what is now called as forensic ngerprinting – the forensic examination of
rearms and other evidence (bullets, cartridges etc.) recovered from the crime scene to link them to
suspects or the speci c weapons used in a crime.
The rst case of forensic rearm examination to be documented was in 1835. That was when Henry
Goddard applied ballistic ngerprinting to link a bullet recovered from the victim to the actual culprit.
On careful inspection, he found that the bullet had a defect on its surface which did not seem to be
from the barrel or the result of an impact. It seemed more like a defect acquired during its
manufacturing. Anticipating that the shooter would have made the bullet himself, he realized that
recovering the bullet mold would easily help him con rm the shooter. He was thus able to exactly zero
in on the shooter when the mold found at the suspect’s home matched the marks on the bullet. This
proved as a crucial evidence in convicting the shooter though he did also confess to the crime
eventually.
Back in 1860, the case of Regina v Richardson showcases another example of the early application of
rearm identi cation. The major evidence, in this case, was a newspaper wadding. Back in the era
before cartridges came into existence, such wadding was used to create a seal between the bullet and
the gunpowder. The wadding that was found in the two-barreled muzzle-loading pistol recovered from
the murder site matched the wadding found in the victim’s wound. Additionally, a wadding that was
discovered at the suspect’s home was found to be made up of the same material (London Time’s
newspaper) as the waddings recovered before. This helped to con rm that he was the shooter and led
to his conviction.
The Birth of Magni cation
Over time, as the mass production of guns and ammunition gained pace, the process of ri ing became
standardized. Thus, whereas a forensic examiner could speci cally match the ri ing marks on a bullet
recovered from the crime scene to those on the rearm’s barrel, it became increasingly di cult to
match a bullet to a speci c rearm made by a speci c manufacturer through simple observation. And
as they say, necessity is the mother of invention! So eventually, this paved the way for the magni ed
observation of bullets.
In 1902, Oliver Wendell Holmes, who later became the justice of the US Supreme Court, is said to have
used a magnifying glass to examine a test bullet that he red into cotton wool to compare its striations
with those found on the bullet recovered from the victim during an autopsy.
Later in Paris (1912), Professor Balthazard took numerous photographs of the circumferences of the
bullet found at the crime scene. He then enlarged these photographs to compare the markings with
those obtained on the bullet that he had test- red from the suspect’s weapon.
Paving the way for the Development of Comparison
Microscope
Eventually, magni cation became a crucial part of rearm examinations. However, even though
microscopes did exist back then, it was quite challenging to compare two bullets simultaneously. While
examining one bullet under the microscope, forensic examiners had to retain the mental image of the
other bullet meant for comparison. This posed obvious risks to the validity and reliability of the
investigations.
In fact, a major aw involving ballistic ngerprinting almost led to the conviction of an innocent Charles
F. Stielow in 1915 in the United States. He was convicted and sentenced to death for shooting his
employer and employer’s housekeeper using a pistol of 0.22 caliber. However, when investigator
Charles E. Waite reevaluated the evidence with microscopy expert, Dr. Max Poser, he con rmed that
the bullets recovered from the crime scene couldn’t have been red from Stielow’s gun. Stielow was
then acquitted and released.
Embarrassed and perturbed at the possibilities of such blunders in the future, Waite began cataloging
the manufacturing data on guns and ammunition. He also made sure to include foreign sources upon
realizing that a majority of rearms back then were imported. In due course, Waite along with physicist
John Fisher, Major Calvin Goddard, and chemist Philip Gravelle, established the Bureau of Forensic
Ballistics in New York City. Philip Gravelle eventually developed the comparison microscope (two
microscopes connected by an optical bridge) solving the challenges of simultaneous comparison.
The rst signi cant application of this microscope was in the investigations of the Saint Valentine’s
Day Massacre in 1929. By examining the bullets and cartridge cases recovered from the site, he was
able to identify the exact weapons used – a 12-gauge shotgun and two Thompson submachine guns.
Furthermore, he was led to the suspect by matching the evidence recovered to the gun retrieved from
his home. In 1932, when the FBI laboratory was established, Goddard got to train its rst rearm
identi cation professional.
Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab) – In the league of
busting crimes
Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab) – a premier private forensic science laboratory headquartered
in Chennai and having a presence all over India, is a valuable addition to the forensic domain in India.
With crime rates ascending every year, the dearth of su cient forensic labs leads to a delay in
investigations and the relay of justice. IFF Lab with its repertoire of forensic experts catering to various
segments is thus a valuable addition to the country’s forensic requirements. That, coupled with a state-
of-the-art forensic laboratory has enabled them to be the frontrunners in investigating a host of
complicated cases. They are a futuristic cybercrime and digital forensic center that offers solutions
catering to law enforcement agencies, private investigators, individuals, corporates and the
government. They rmly believe in leveraging the technical expertise of their forensic experts in
providing e cient, fast, and cost-effective services and solutions across a diverse spectrum.
CONTACT US
Get in Touch with IFF Lab for Criminal Investigations and Other Forensic Services.
RELATED POSTS
PREV MAIN BLOG NEXT
ABOUT US RECENT BLOGS
IFF Lab provides digital and cyber forensic solutions across multiple verticals. 7 Types of Malware | Signs of Malware Infection &
Its state-of-the-art forensic laboratory and approach of staying abreast of the Preventive Measures
latest in technologies, terminology, and procedures renders IFF Lab a name that Types of Training on Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
can be trusted. by Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab)
Importance of Digital Forensics in India
BANGALORE OFFICE CHENNAI OFFICE
6 Types of Hackers
#74, Third Floor, Prestige Ferozes The Executive Zone, Shakti Tower – 1 Types of Penetration Testing conducted by
Building, Cunningham Rd, Vasanth 766 Anna Salai, Mount Road CyberSecurity professionals
Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052 Thousand Lights Metro Station Near
Spencer Plaza, Chennai – 600002.
Tamil Nadu.
© 2023 IFF Lab All rights reserved | Terms & Conditions | Privacy & Policy
