The examination of firearms, bullets, cartridge cases and toolmarks to determine whether they are linked to a specific weapon. Calvin Goddard pioneered the comparison microscope for matching fired bullets and cases to a specific firearm. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
What It ExaminesFirearms, fired bullets and cartridge cases, comparing toolmarks left by a weapon to link ammunition components to a particular firearm and reconstruct shooting incidents. 1 Formalized YearSourced to the subject's own accountThe year Calvin Goddard and colleagues established the Bureau of Forensic Ballistics in New York. Known LimitationThe 2009 National Academy of Sciences report placed firearm and toolmark comparison among the pattern-matching disciplines whose conclusions rest on examiner judgment without an adequately validated statistical foundation. 3 Discipline
Discipline (category) Connections
Cases Where Used
A firearms match through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network linked shell casings across shooting scenes and helped connect the attacks to a single weapon.
Source Wikipedia: D.C. Sniper Attacks
Examines Within
Pioneered By
Source Wikipedia: Calvin Hooker Goddard
Charles Waite founded the Bureau of Forensic Ballistics in New York in 1925 with Goddard, Gravelle and Fisher, the first dedicated firearms identification laboratory in the United States; spot-verified live via web search 2026-09-04.
Philip O. Gravelle, at the Bureau of Forensic Ballistics, adapted the comparison microscope from the textile industry to firearms identification in 1925, letting examiners compare bullets and cartridge cases side by side; spot-verified live via web search 2026-09-04.
Sources
1. Saferstein, Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Richard Saferstein, Pearson
2. Wikipedia: Calvin Hooker Goddard
WikipediaForensic ballistics section
In April 1925, Major Goddard established the Bureau of Forensic Ballistics in New York City with C. E. Waite, Philip O. Gravelle and John H. Fisher.
- Pioneered By: Calvin Goddard
View the Source 3. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
page synopsisQuote, page synopsis
Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work.
Wikipedia: D.C. Sniper Attacks
Cases Where Used: Beltway Snipers Case, Investigation sectionQuote, Cases Where Used: Beltway Snipers Case, Investigation section
Ballistics tests later conclusively linked the seized rifle to 11 of the 14 shootings.
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