Listed below are four reference lists for the Firearm, Toolmark, and Gunshot Residue written examinations. There are individual reference lists for each of the three examinations, and a list of references common to all three examinations. The lists represent approximately 75 percent of the items that have currently been written for the AFTE written examinations.
Examination Content Breakdown by Certification Subject Area
AFTE Firearm Written Examination
| Collection and Preservation of Evidence | 13% |
| Examination of Firearm Evidence | 60% |
| Examination of Gunshot Residue Evidence | 6% |
| Examination of Toolmark Evidence | 4% |
| Documentation of Physical Evidence and Analytical Results | 4% |
| Safe Work Practices | 7% |
| Professional Development | 4% |
| Maintaining Professional Ethical Standards of Conduct | 2% |
Percentages are approximate
AFTE Toolmark Written Examination
| Collection and Preservation of Evidence | 21% |
| Examination of Firearm Evidence | 14% |
| Examination of Gunshot Residue Evidence | 0% |
| Examination of Toolmark Evidence | 39% |
| Documentation of Physical Evidence and Analytical Results | 6% |
| Safe Work Practices | 8% |
| Professional Development | 9% |
| Maintaining Professional Ethical Standards of Conduct | 3% |
Percentages are approximate
AFTE Gunshot Residue Written Examination
| Collection and Preservation of Evidence | 16% |
| Examination of Firearm Evidence | 10% |
| Examination of Gunshot Residue Evidence | 39% |
| Examination of Toolmark Evidence | 0% |
| Documentation of Physical Evidence and Analytical Results | 5% |
| Safe Work Practices | 9% |
| Professional Development | 6% |
| Maintaining Professional Ethical Standards of Conduct | 3% |
Percentages are approximate
References Common to all Three Tests
The references listed below were used to write items for the Firearm, Toolmark, and Gunshot Residue written examinations. The following job content areas are common to all three credentialing examinations: collection and preservation of evidence; laboratory equipment and techniques; safe work practices; professional ethics; professional development; and testifying in court.
The references listed below were also used to develop items specifically for the Firearm, Toolmark, and Gunshot Residue written examinations.
AFTE. AFTE Glossary, 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions, 1994.
AFTE. AFTE Code of Ethics. AFTE Journal, Vol. 29, Winter 1997.
AFTE. AFTE Code of Ethics. AFTE Journal, Vol. 30, Winter 1998.
ASCLD, ASCLD Laboratory Accreditation Board Manual, January 1997
Hatcher, Jury, and Weller. Firearms Investigation, Identification, and Evidence, 2nd edition, 1977.
Saferstein, Richard. Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 6th Edition, 1998.
Saferstein, Richard. Forensic Science Handbook, 1st edition, 1982.
Firearm References
In addition to the common references listed above, the following references were used to develop the test questions for the Firearm Written Examination.
Barnes, Frank C. Cartridges of the World, 7th edition, 1993.
DiMaio, Vincent. Gunshot Wounds, 1st edition, 1985.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gunpowder and Primer Residue Manual, 1984.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. General Rifling Characteristics File, 1998.
Frost, George E. Ammunition Making, 1st edition, 1990.
Gunther and Gunther. The Identification of Firearms, 1st edition, 1935.
Haag, Lucien. Forensic Firearms Evidence, 1st edition, 1992.
Hatcher, Julian S. Textbook of Firearms Identification, 5th edition, 1946,
Hatcher, Julian S. Hatcher's Notebook, 3rd edition, 1966.
Heard, Brian. Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics, 1st edition, 1997.
Hornady. Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, 4th edition, 1991.
Krcma, Vaczav. The identification of Firearms, 1st edition, 1971.
Lyman Reloading Handbook, 47th edition, 1997.
Mathews, J. Howard. Firearms Identification, Vol. 2, 1973.
Matunas, Edward. American Ammunition and Ballistics, 1st edition, 1979.
National Rifle Association. NRA Firearms and Ammunition Fact Book, 3rd edition, 1989.
Nonte, George Jr. Firearms Encyclopedia, 2nd edition, 1980
Toolmark References
In addition to the common references listed above, the following references were used to develop the test questions for the Toolmark Written Examination.
Biasotti, Alfred and Murdock, John. AFTE Journal, Vol. 16, #4, 1984.
Davis, John. An Introduction to Toolmarks, Firearms and the Striagraph, 1"edition, 1958.
Fisher, Barry, Svensson, Arne, and Wendel, Otto. Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 4th Edition, 1987.
Kirk, Paul L. Crime Investigation, 1st edition, 1953.
Meyers, Charles. AFTE Journal, Vol. 25, #4, 1993.
Murdock, John. The Individuality of Tool Marks Produced by Desk Staplers. AFTE Journal, Vol.21, #2, April 1989.
Paholoke, Arthur. AFTE Journal, #2, April 1989.
Polk and Giessel. AFTE Journal, Vol.7, #2, April 1989.
Treptow, Richard S. Handbook of Methods for the Restoration of Obliterated Serial Numbers, Lewis Research Center: Cleveland, Ohio, 1978.
Gunshot Residue References
In addition to the common references listed above, the following references were used to develop the test questions for the Gunshot Residue Written Examination.
Dillon, John Jr. The Sodium Rhodizonate Tests: A Chemically Specific Test for Lead in Gunshot Residues. AM Journal, Vol. 22, #3, July 1990.
Dillon, John Jr. A Protocol for Gunshot Residue Examination in Muzzle-to-Target Distance Determination. AM Journal, Vol. 22, #3, July 1990.
DiMaio, Vincent. Gunshot Wounds, 1st edition, 1985.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gunpowder and Primer Residue Manual, 1984.
Haag, Lucien. AFTE Journal, Vol. 23, #3, 1991.
Haag, Lucien. Forensic Firearms Evidence, 1st edition, 1992.
Heard. Brian. Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics. 1st edition. 1997.