Firearms and Toolmark Identification Section

Forensic Science and Identification Services

Overview

The Firearms and Toolmark Identification Section is part of the RCMP’s National Police Services (NPS), providing two major areas of expertise: firearms and toolmark analysis. Firearms and Toolmark Identification sections are located in the Halifax, Regina and Vancouver laboratories of Forensic Science and Identification Services (FS&IS).

Firearms Identification

Services include:

• determining whether a bullet, cartridge case or other ammunition component has been loaded into, or fired from a particular firearm;
• determining the probable make of firearm from or in which an ammunition component was fired when no firearm is available;
• assessing the mechanical condition of firearms;
• determining the legal status of a firearm;
• determining the distance the muzzle of a firearm was from a target at the time of discharge;
• conducting analysis of bullet path at a crime scene or autopsy;
• providing serial number restoration;
• physical matching of wood, metal or plastic fragments;
• managing the Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network in support of the investigation of firearms crime

Toolmark Identification

Services include:

• determining whether a tool mark impression was made by a given tool;
• determining the type of tool which may have created a mark if no tool was recovered