HOMEMADE FIREARM: CONCEPT, SIGNS, FORENSIC INVESTIGATION

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the concept, signs and features of the forensic investigation of homemade firearms. It was found that homemade firearms are imitations of industrial firearms made by persons without the appropriate permit from improvised materials and using publicly available metalworking tools, which, according to their technical characteristics and design features, are suitable for firing and hitting a target. The features that distinguish homemade firearms from other types of weapons include: 1) the absence of a serial number or marking; 2) the shape of homemade firearms is atypical and differs from that characteristic of industrial firearms; 3) the presence of improvised materials in the design of homemade firearms (metal plates, pipes, bolts, springs, wood, etc.); 4) the presence of parts or details of industrial weapons in the design of homemade firearms; 5) uneven surfaces and parts on which elements of sawing, welding, grinding are visible; 6) unreliability of the design of homemade firearms. It is proposed to divide homemade firearms into those that are made from improvised materials (pipes, bolts, metal plates, wood, plastic, springs and parts from any tools), as well as homemade firearms for the manufacture of which parts of industrial firearms are used (handle, barrel, individual mechanisms). In this case, homemade weapons should be distinguished from converted ones, which are characterized by the fact that such structural changes are made to certain types (starter pistols, air pistols, smoothbore rifles) as a result of which they become suitable for shooting. For the purpose of studying homemade firearms, a forensic ballistics examination is assigned, which resolves the issue of classifying the object submitted for examination as a firearm; the method of manufacture; serviceability and suitability for shooting; the ability of the object provided for research to fire a shot.