Not under the hammer: a revolver suicide

Area of Science:

• Forensic science
• Ballistics
• Firearms investigation

Background:

• Investigating self-inflicted gunshot wounds requires meticulous scene analysis.
• Revolvers are common firearms in forensic investigations.
• Understanding firearm mechanics is crucial for accurate interpretation of evidence.

Observation:

• A deceased male was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
• The firearm was a revolver with a single fired cartridge casing.
• The casing was found in the cylinder, but not positioned under the hammer.

Findings:

• The revolver cylinder can be manually rotated in reverse (hand-indexed).
• This reverse indexing allows the cylinder to be latched with the casing out of alignment with the hammer.
• The position of the casing relative to the hammer is not a definitive indicator of the firing sequence in all cases.

Implications:

• This finding challenges a common assumption in firearms examination.
• Investigators must consider the possibility of reverse cylinder indexing when analyzing revolvers.
• This could impact the interpretation of evidence in future forensic investigations involving revolvers.