- 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
AFTE Range of Conclusions
Home > Toolmark Identification > Basic Toolmark Identification > AFTE Range of Conclusions
Based on the AFTE Theory of Identification, there are four categories of examination outcomes (Range of Conclusions Possible When Comparing Toolmarks) typically used by examiners in the microscopic comparison of both striated and impressed toolmarks.
For purposes of this module, typical toolmark comparisons fall into two broad categories:
- An evidence toolmark from a crime scene is identified as having been made by a particular evidence tool.
- Two evidence toolmarks recovered from the same or separate crime scenes are identified as having been made by a single tool (no tool submitted).
These categories are accepted for all types of toolmarks:
- Identification
- Inconclusive
- Elimination
- Unsuitable for comparison
