How can they tell?
In a recent double-murder in Northern California, two young people were shot while camping, apparently while sleeping in their sleeping bags. A few days ago authorities said the two were shot with either a Marlin lever action rifle or a Marlin semi-auto rifle. My ignorance is showing here, but how could they know that?
Si vis Pacem, Para bellum
Si vis Pacem, Para bellum
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The rifleing in the bore of firearms is in many cases unique to a particular manufacturer. In some firearms the impression the fireing pin makes on the base of the exjected cartridge is unique also. The FBI and other ballistic facilities have extensive reference samples and databases with this type of material, so that they can identify firearms from the rifleing on the recovered projectiles and/or fireing pin markings. 
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AS RUFE-SNOW stated in this case Marlin "MICRO GROOVE" has more lands and grooves and I don't think anyone else uses this type of barrel 0 -
[8D]Also combined with the EXTRACTION marks left on the expended cartridges, for that size caliber.[:D][:D][:D][:D]
On your mark-get set- go away!!0 -
In regards to the extraction mark, its the relationship of the the extractor mark to that of the ejector that helps to identify an unknown weapon. Once a weapon is located you can use the machining flaws of the breechblock, extractor and ejector transfered to the empty case to effect a match. 0 -
Doesn't the government want to implement some sort of "ballistic fingerprinting" so they can identify individual firearms by either the spent cartridge or the recovered projectile? 0 -
The giveaway on this one is the fact that thier looking for a Marlin
Rifle in a peticular caliber. Marlin micro grove rifling, while being extremely favorable for increased accuracy, is also easily idenifiable as to the manufacturer of the longarm. They don't need a spent case on this one, and probably don't have one because of the unknown distance and other circumstances surronding the shootings.
The Rifleing and caliber of the recovered projectile will tell them the type of rifle in the Marlin Line. Remember folks, you need a FLAT NOSE bullet to load multiple rounds in a tube fed CENTERFIRE rifle. No other GOOD reason to use FLAT NOSE.
Edward Milliron
Remembering what Murphy told me back in the day's....
Dillon XL650 "Crank & Shoot"0 -
I wonder if the AUTHORITIES know that the early KART conversion units for the 1911 used a marlin micro groove barrel??? 0 -
So if you were a smart criminal, wouldn't you just replace the barrel, extractor, firing pin, etc..? 0 -
Caliber, design and weight of bullet pinpoints the murder weapon as a rifle and as others have stated, the unique design of modern Marlin rifling is a vital filter.
laisterr, "smart" and "criminal" are two terms rarely combined outside of fiction. In the instant case, a knowledgeable individual, much less a smart one, would not have chosen a firearm with such a distinctive signature in the first place. It is a lot easier to change the details of a semi-auto pistol than a rifle. It takes equipment and knowledge to change a barrel on a rifle - much above that of the average firearms owner. Similar challenges on the extraction mechanism. This was a crime of passion, stupidity or impulse undertaken with whatever was at hand.
I have no expectation of ever committing any crime, but I can think of many ways to alter the characteristics of the firearm to make the forensic experts' task far harder, if not impossible. The only way any firearm I used could be traced to me would be if I were apprehended during the commission of the crime or in making my escape. Given the science available to LE agencies, it is more a matter of luck than intelligence to commit a successful crime, but intelligence will improve the odds. Having Mark Garagos as an attorney would be an even greater advantage.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals / demoMAGGOTS" (me)0 -
quote:Originally posted by laisterr
So if you were a smart criminal, wouldn't you just replace the barrel, extractor, firing pin, etc..?
If you were smart, you would fling it into the sun!
There is no gun in the world worth risking a prison term or a possible death sentence.
It's the cheapskake crooks that can't part with their $500 pistol that sometimes sends them to the bighouse!
There was a cowhand once who said that Shakespeare was the only poet who wrote like he'd been raised on red meat.
No man in his right mind will play with a gun. I've seen show-offs doing fancy spins and all that. No real gun-fighter ever did. With a hairtrigger, he'd be likely to blow a hole in his belly. L'Amour
Stolen from, and with thanks, to Kiwibird0 -
This crime was on the beach, the criminal could have easily tossed the gun in the sea, by the time its recovered, the sea water, algae, microbes etc else would have eliminated any fingerprints or DNA. Even if it was a poorly thought out crime, a few minutes of thought would have allowed him to coverup most of the evidence, assuming hes willing to part with his gun.
If he could even toss it 50 feet into the ocean, and not use any boat or anything, it would sink to the bottom, get covered with sand, and probably not wash up for some time, unless they have divers combing the coast for about a mile in each direction, the criminal coulda disposed of the weapon without even leaving the scene of the crime.
Unless he murders again and slips up, or becomes a serial murder with a pattern, I think He'll get away with it.
Geragos may not even be a good lawyer, he's considering not even presenting a defense because the prosecution has so little evidence.
I think he's guilty, just based on the circumstances. I sadly would have to agree that they havent proven anything though, and he probably should be released under our justice system.0
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