- 01: Introduction
- 02: History
- 03: Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development
- 04: Modern Firearms Manufacture
- 05: Small Arms Ammunition
- 06: Evidence Handling Procedures
- 07: Equipment and Instrumentation
- 08: Examination of Firearms
- 09: Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
- 10: Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
- 11: Bullet Comparison and Identification
- 12: Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
- 13: Toolmark Identification
- 14: Communicating Results
- Resources
Pattern Identification
Home > Bullet Comparison and Identification > Identification > Pattern Identification
Pattern matching is the process of determining whether or not the striated toolmarks on two objects, such as fired bullets, correspond. This is a somewhat subjective process based on the observations and experience of the examiner with the ultimate goal of making a pattern identification.
Pattern matching is the standard method for firearms identification. However, it can be difficult to articulate to a jury how an identification is determined using this process.
Some attempts have been made to define this process in quantitative terms as opposed to the traditional qualitative methods. An example of this is the consecutive matching striation approach.
