NCJ Number
113375
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (July-August 1988) Pages: 161-164
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
To determine if cyanoacrylate processing to visualize latent fingerprints on handguns affects subsequent trigger pull, 33 revolvers and 12 semiautomatic pistols were selected from weapons submitted to the laboratory for destruction.
Abstract
Single and (if applicable) double action trigger pull were recorded for each weapon. The weapons were then exposed to vapor-phase cyanoacrylate ester at 2.5 times the normal concentration for twice the normal time, using the heat acceleration method of vaporization in a 20-gallon tank. The intentional overexposure ensured that any adverse effect would be clearly revealed. There was no effort to protect the internal mechanisms of the weapons, and pistols were processed with the magazines removed. Five of the weapons were not processed, so as to provide a blind control in conducting trigger-pull measurements. After processing, trigger pull for each weapon was again determined. No variation in trigger pull was found between pre-cyanoacrylate and post-cyanoacrylate processing. 1 table, 7 references.