When examining a firearm, what specific features should an investigator assess?

In the investigation of a firearm, assessing technical specifications such as size and shape is crucial. These characteristics can provide significant information regarding the firearm's make, model, and potential use in a crime. Understanding the specific dimensions and contours can also help in comparing evidence collected from a crime scene to known firearms, which can establish links between a weapon and a suspect or victim.

Additionally, technical specifications include details like barrel length and caliber, which are important for determining the type of ammunition that matches the firearm and for ballistics analysis. This information can be critical in crime scene reconstruction and in understanding the weapon's capabilities and limitations.

While design aesthetics, weight and balance, and the firearm's age and history can provide contextual or supplementary information, they are not the primary focus when examining a firearm from a forensic standpoint. The critical aspects that serve investigations are primarily centered around the technical specifications which link the firearm to evidence or the circumstances surrounding a crime.