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Identification

Home > Toolmark Identification > Basic Toolmark Identification > AFTE Range of Conclusions > Identification
Toolmarks on a magazine

Toolmarks on a magazine

Courtesy of Charles Clow

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The AFTE Glossary defines an identification as:

“Agreement of a combination of individual characteristics and all discernable class characteristics where the extent of agreement exceeds that which can occur in the comparison of toolmarks made by different tools and is consistent with the agreement demonstrated by toolmarks known to have been produced by the same tool.”

Cartridge removed from magazine

Cartridge removed from magazine

Courtesy of Charles Clow
Click for larger image

This statement reflects the concepts of sufficient agreement and best known nonmatch. All identifications are based on pattern matching. It is possible to go beyond this qualitative match to the use of quantifiable consecutive matching striae (CMS) to further support an identification.

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