Technical Definition of Firearms
Firearm is an instrument used for the propulsion of projectile by means of the expansive force gases
coming from burning gunpowder.
Classification of Firearms
Two General Classification of Firearms (AccordingtoInteriorBarrelConstruction)
[Link] Bore Firearms - Fire arms that have no rifling (lands and grooves) inside their gun barrel.
Examples:Shotguns and Musket
[Link] Bore Firearms - Fire arms that have rifling inside their gun barrel.
Examples:Pistols,Revolvers,and other modern weapons
Main Types of Firearms
[Link] - Refers to those type of firearms that propels projectile with more than one inch diameter.
Examples:Cannons,Mortars and Bazookas:
[Link] Arms - Are firearms that propels projectile with less than one inch diameter and it can be
handled, moved and operated by one man.
Examples: Machinegun,shoulder arms and handguns.
Small Arms
• Machine guns
Machine gun is a type of firearm that is primarily designed for military use. Even in investigation
of shooting cases done in the city, it is not usual or common to encounter this type of firearm having
been [Link] can be grouped in three general types:
• Sub Machine Gun
Is a light, portable form of machine gun, utilizing a pistol size ammunition, having a shoulder
stock that may or may not be folded and designed to be fired with both hands.
Shoulder Arms
Shoulder Arms are those types of fire arm that were normally fired from the shoulder.
Rifles -A shoulder weapon designed to fire a projectile with more accuracy through along rifled bore
barrel, usually more than 22 inches.
Carbine - A short barrel rifle, with its barrel rifle, measuring not longer than 22 inches. It fires a single
projectile though a rifle-bore either semi-automatic or fully automatic, for every press of the trigger.
Muskets - is an ancient smooth bore and muzzle loading military shoulder arms designed to fire a shots
or a single round leadball.
Shotgun - A smooth bore and a breech loading shoulder arms designed to fire a number of lead pellets
or a shots in one charge.
The barrel construction of shotgun may also be found in different bore construction.
[Link] bore type - which the bore size is the same through out the barrel.
[Link] bored gun - designed with adiminishing or reducing bore diameter type towards the muzzle.
This type is designed to cause an effect to the travel of the shots. It makes the shots travel longer before
its preads.
C.“paradox gun”-still in a very rear occasions an other type of shotgun can be observed to behaving
rifling only a few inch from its muzzle points.
Hand guns - those type of fire arms that are designed or intended to be fired using one hand.
Ex. Pistols and Revolvers
[Link]
In early firearm history, all handguns are generally called as pistols. There were three classes of
pistols in the period. The single shot pistol, the semi automatic and the revolving pistols now known as
the revolver.
[Link]
Revolver is a type of fire arm designed to position cartridge into position for firing with the aid of
a rotating cylinder serving as its chamber. There are two types of revolvers according to its mechanical
firing action.
Single action, a type of revolver that needs a manual cocking of the hammer before squeezing the
trigger and the other is
Double action,
a type of revolver that does not need manual [Link] press the trigger and it both cocked and
released the hammer causing a much faster firing.
Man Behind Firearms
CALVIN H. GODDARD - Father of Modern Ballistics.
HORACE SMITH – Founded the great firm SMITH and WESSON and pioneered the making of breech
loading rifles.
DANIEL B. WESSON - Associate of Smith in the manufacture of new cartridges and revolvers. SAMUEL
COLT - Produced the first practical revolvers.
JOHN M. BROWNING -Wizard of modern firearms and pioneered the first breech loading single shot
rifles.
ALEXANDER JOHN FORSYTH - Father of percussion ignition.
ELISHA KING ROOT - Designed machinery for making colt firearms.
ELIPHALET REMINGTON - One of the first rifle makers.
JOHN MAHLON MARTIN - Founded the firearm company which bears his name.
JAMES WOLFE RIPLY - Stimulated the development of the 1855 rifled Musket, the first firearm of its
kind ever produced.
HENRY DERRINGER - He gave his name to whole class of firearms.
OLIVER F. WINCHESTER - One of the earliest rifle and pistol makers.
JOHN T. THOMPSON - Pioneered the making of Thompson Submachine gun.
DAVID CARBINE WILLIAM - Maker of the first known carbine.
JOHN C. GARAND - Designed and invented the U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30 M1.
Forensic ballistics
• the science of firearm identification by means of the ammunition fired through them.
Divisions of forensic ballistics
Field investigation
• Refers to the work of an investigation in the field.
Technical examination of the exhibit
• Refers to the examiner who examine bullets and/or shells whether fired from also whether or
not cartridges were loaded and ejected made by the suspected firearm submitted.
Legal proceedings
• Wherein firearm examiner and ballistic exhibits are presented during the trial of the case in a
court of justice
