The document discusses the classification of firearms. It describes firearms as being classified based on their bore (smooth bore vs rifled), loading mechanism (muzzleloader, breechloader, magazine loader), action (lever, bolt, self-loading), firing capability (single shot vs repeater), how they are handled (handguns vs shoulder arms) and their use (service vs sporting). Primitive firearms discussed include matchlock, wheel-lock, flintlock and muzzleloaders. Modern firearms are classified based on these various characteristics.

1. Submitted to :
Dr. Navjot Kaur Kanwal
Asst. professor
Dept. of criminology & forensic science
Dr Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyalaya
Submitted by :-
Avinash Kumar
&
Piyars Ranjan Singh

2. CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
A)THE TERM FIREARM MEANS….
2 CLASSIFICATION
a)PRIMITIVE……………..
-MATCHLOCK
-WHEEL-LOCK
-FLINT LOCK
-MUZZLELOADER
b)MODERN………………..
-BASED ON BORE
-BASED ON LOADING
- BASED ON ACTION
- BASED ON FIRING
-BASED ON HANDLING
- BASED ON USE
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3. AVINASH KUMAR

4. The term “firearm” means:-
According to Indian Arms Act,a
firearm means arm of any description.
• Designed ,adapted to discharge a
projectile or projectile of any kind by
the Action of any explosive or other
form of energy and include:
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5. Artillery, hand grenades, riot pistol or
weapon of any kind designed or adapted for
the discharge of any noxious liquid ,gas or
other such thing
Accessories for any such firearm designed or
adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused
by the firing
Parts of and machinery for manufacturing
firearm and cartridge, platform and
Appliance for mounting ,transporting and
serving artillery
The term “firearm” means… (continue)

6. Firearms classification
Modern
Primitive
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7. PRIMIRTIVE
 MATCHLOCK
 WHEEL-LOCK GUNS
 FLINT LOCK
 MUZZLELOADER
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8. MATCH LOCK: PRIMITIVE FIREARM
 The ignition was
initiated through
touch hole when the
firearm loaded the
powder would reach
the touch hole there ,
the powder could
ignited without much
danger .it was an
important feature it
reduce the chance of
accident considerably .
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9.  A smoldering wick replaced the smoldering
stick or hot iron road to ignite powder charge
.it was attached to an S shaped metal piece the
wick could be brought to or taken away from
the touch hole by manipulating the metal piece
 The straight wooden stock was replaced by a
curved stock .it could absorb the recoil better
.it fitted to the shoulder, in shoulder arm and
gave a better grip in in hand gun.
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MATCH LOCK: PRIMITIVE FIREARM…continue

10. The wick to be pushed forward and the ash
removed from time to time
The wind could fan it and consume the
wick quickly the system , therefore gave
way to the wheel lock ignition mechanism
Drawback

11. Wheel-lock Guns
 In wheel lock guns, a
wheel with corrugated
edge surface could be
put into motion by
pressing a trigger .
 The wheel was so
positioned that it
struck against an iron
pyrite piece placed
over the touch hole .
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12. The wheel lock mechanism was complicated
and costly .flint lock device replaced it.
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The friction produced sparks which fell
upon the gunpowder contained in a
depressed site ,called flash pan, around
the touch hole and light it ,which in
turn, put the gun powder, contained in
the barrel , on fire through the touch
hole
Wheel-lock Guns continue…
Drawback

13. FLINTLOCK GUNS
 In flintlock guns , a piece
of flint was fixed to jaw
shaped device, like an
ordinary gun-hammer,
which could be operated
with the trigger.
 On pressing the trigger,
the hammer holding the
flint would fall and strike
the metal piece kept over
the flash pan.The spark
so produced lighted the
charge in the same away
as in the wheel lock
system.
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14. Muzzle loader
 The important breakthrough in
the development of modem
firearm was the discovery of a
pressure sensitive composition
which on being struck, would
ignite to give flame .
 The flame was utilised to set
the main powder charge on
fire.
 The composition was packed in
a strip of paper in the form of
pellet.
 The strip was continuously
moved to the touch hole
mechanically or by hand to
take the charge pellet to the
touch hole.
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15.  On pressing the trigger ,a hammer would fall
on the pellet with sufficient force to ignite it.
 The flame so produced would ignite the
powder charge inside the barrel through the
touchhole.
 The paper pellets soon gave way to percussion
caps where the composition was placed in
metallic cups. Percussion cap, separately or as
part of the complete round form important
part of ammunition.
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Muzzle loader…. continue

16.  The induction of percussion cap led to the
modification of the firearm also. Instead of
a touch hole, a nipple was screwed on the
barrel. The percussion cap was placed on
the nipple and when struck by the usual
trigger –hammer Manipulation, the
composition gave the flame, which lighted
the powder charge in the barrel through the
nipple.
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Muzzle loader…. continue

17.  This arrangement is the muzzle-loading
firearm. Muzzle-loading firearms are met
with in some case even today ,in India.
 A muzzle-loading firearm has a barrel
closed at the stock end and open at the
muzzle end .
 The barrel is fixed to the action and stock
and carries nipple on its side near the
stock end.
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Muzzle loader…. continue

18. MODERN FIREARMS
 Based on “Bore” characteristics
1)Smooth Bore.
2)Rifled Bore.
 Based on “Loading” characteristic
1)Muzzleloader.
2)Breech loader.
3)Magazine loader.
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19.  Based on “Action” characteristic
1)Lever Action.
2)Bolt Action.
3)Self-Loaders .
4)Automatics.
 Based on “Firing” characteristic
1)Single shot Firearms
2)Repeaters.
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20.  Based on ‘Handling’ characteristics
1)Handguns
2)Shoulder arms
 Based on ‘use’
1)Sporting Firearms
2)Service Firearms
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21. BASED ON BORE CHARACTERISTIC
Smooth Bore
A smooth bore has no lands And groove
.A smooth bore does not encourage the
projectile to spin like a rifled barrel.
Rifled Bore
Rifled bore has land and groove that
cause the projectile to spin when it exits.
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23. BASED ON LOADING CHARACTERISTIC.
 MUZZLE LODER
A muzzleloader is any
firearm in which the
projectile and propellant
charge is loaded from the
muzzle of the gun
 Breech loader
A Breech loader describe
a firearm in which the
cartridge or shell is
inserted or loaded into a
chamber
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24. Magazine loader .
Magazine are used in repeating automatic
and semi automatic firearms. They are
aligned with the chamber of the barrel on
one hand and with the moving bolt or
breechblock on the other hand .In some
firearms , the magazine is permanently
fixed .
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25. BASED ONACTION CHARACTERISTIC
Lever Action
lever action is a type of firearm in which the
lever located in the trigger guard area to load
fresh cartridges into the chamber of the
barrel.
Bolt Action
loading and unloading operation are carried
out through a storage steel bolt with knob.
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26.  In the forward normal position ,the bolt is
locked with its knob turned to one side . In
this position it seal the chamber also .the
firearm is cocked in this position unless it
has already been fired. The firing pin
assembly is inside the bolt .when trigger is
pressed, The firing pin flies forward
through a hole in in the bolt head an strikes
the cartridge .
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Bolt Action …continue

27. Self- loader
Self-loading firearm is also known as the
semi automatic firearm .Semi-automatic is
not only fire a bullet each time when trigger
is pulled, but also perform all steps
necessary to prepare it to discharge again .
Automatic
A automatic firearm continuously fires
when trigger is pressed
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28. BASED ON “FIRING”CHARACTERISTIC
Single shot firearm
Single –shot firearm hold only single
ammunition ,reload after each shot
Repeaters
In the repeater firearms multiple cartridge
stored in a magazine but capable of single
cartridge reload .
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29. BASED ON HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS
Handguns
Handgun is small firearm enough to be held
in one hand when fired .It usually fires a
single projectile or bullet or may be
additional ammunition may be available in
a revolving magazine. Handguns may be
used for target shooting, hunting etc.
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30. Shoulder arms
A shoulder firearm is a longer barrels type
of firearms which is designed in such way
to be held by both hands which is fired from
the shoulder
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31. BASED ON USE
Service firearm
This type of weapon issued to special force
units
 Sporting
Rifle is used by hunters, competitors
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32. REFERENCE
1) Brian J. Heard FIREARM AND BALLISTICS
2) SHARMAB.R ‘FORENSIC SCIENCE IN
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL
4TH EDITION LAW, PUBLICATION ,NEW
DELHI.
3). SAFESTEIN. R “INTRODUCTION TO
FORENSIC SCIENCE”
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