- 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
- Safety
- Worksheets and Reports
- Selected Bibliography
- Ethics
- Assessments
Toolmarks
Home > Safety > Toolmarks
Safely packaged tools
Toolmark evidence will generally include a tool (a harder object) which has marked a softer object, leaving class, individual, and possibly subclass characteristics. If the tool is edged or pointed, it may be a safety concern and should be handled with care.
If a tool is contaminated with biological material it should be treated as a biohazard with appropriate precautions. At the crime scene these items should be preserved in leak-proof, puncture-resistant sealed containers.
