DNA recovery from 3D printed firearms

Oltrogger, FT; Howe, G; McNevin, D; Bolton, M; O’Driscoll, C; Woodcock, S

DNA recovery from 3D printed firearms

Oltrogger, FT Howe, G McNevin, D

Bolton, M O’Driscoll, C Woodcock, S

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Publisher:: Elsevier BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Science & Justice, 2026, 66, (2), pp. 101409-101409
Issue Date:: 2026-03

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Oltrogger, FT
dc.contributor.author	Howe, G
dc.contributor.author	McNevin, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1665-3367
dc.contributor.author	Bolton, M
dc.contributor.author	O’Driscoll, C
dc.contributor.author	Woodcock, S https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4903-3164
dc.date.accessioned	2026-04-18T07:32:30Z
dc.date.available	2026-02-12
dc.date.available	2026-04-18T07:32:30Z
dc.date.issued	2026-03
dc.identifier.citation	Science & Justice, 2026, 66, (2), pp. 101409-101409
dc.identifier.issn	1355-0306
dc.identifier.issn	1876-4452
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194757
dc.description.abstract	Over the last few years, additive manufacturing, by means of fused deposition modelling 3D printing, has become increasingly popular and accessible due to the relative low costs, flexibility, and continually lowering barriers for entry. Unfortunately, while this technology is not only used by hobbyists for creative or practical creation of custom objects using a variety of thermoplastic materials, they can also be used in the manufacture of firearms. From fully printed to hybrid designs, AM/3D printing has been used to produce parts for fully functional firearms capable of discharging conventional ammunition. The designs for such firearms can be easily found, downloaded and shared from the internet with 'enthusiasts' developing ever more sophisticated designs. In environments where lawful possession of firearms is strongly controlled, the ability to manufacture and assemble firearms through 3D printing technologies presents an increasing challenge for law enforcement, especially for forensic units tasked with collection, examination and recovery of evidence from these items. Forensic examination of 3D printed firearms can require a different approach compared to conventional firearms if maximum forensic intelligence is desired. Due to the decentralised and often individual nature of manufacture, biometric identification of both the handler/possessor and the manufacturer/assembler of the firearm can have investigative value. However, this can present a dilemma, as collection of biometric evidence from internal surfaces of the firearm typically requires dismantling of components which may affect functionality in subsequent test firing processes. This study aims to investigate DNA transfer and recovery on 3D printed firearms (Harlot pistols and FGC-9) in casework-inspired handling scenarios, to determine the most probative regions for the recovery of DNA originating from the assembler and handler of such firearms as well as determining the effect of firing (or test-firing) the firearm. The findings suggest that assembler DNA can be recovered from internal surfaces of the firearms, with significantly more DNA recovered from internal grip pieces than internal triggers. Further, the proportions of assembler DNA recovered on internal surfaces were significantly more than the proportions on external surfaces, based on contributor proportion percentages. In this study, test firing of the firearm, even up to 25 times, did not result in detectable DNA relocation onto internal surfaces from the individual conducting the test fires.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier BV
dc.relation.ispartof	Science & Justice
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.scijus.2026.101409
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Legal & Forensic Medicine
dc.subject.mesh	Firearms
dc.subject.mesh	Printing, Three-Dimensional
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	DNA
dc.subject.mesh	DNA Fingerprinting
dc.subject.mesh	Microsatellite Repeats
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	DNA
dc.subject.mesh	DNA Fingerprinting
dc.subject.mesh	Microsatellite Repeats
dc.subject.mesh	Firearms
dc.subject.mesh	Printing, Three-Dimensional
dc.title	DNA recovery from 3D printed firearms
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	66
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Forensic Science (CFS)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-04-18T07:32:16Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Accepted
pubs.volume	66
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

Over the last few years, additive manufacturing, by means of fused deposition modelling 3D printing, has become increasingly popular and accessible due to the relative low costs, flexibility, and continually lowering barriers for entry. Unfortunately, while this technology is not only used by hobbyists for creative or practical creation of custom objects using a variety of thermoplastic materials, they can also be used in the manufacture of firearms. From fully printed to hybrid designs, AM/3D printing has been used to produce parts for fully functional firearms capable of discharging conventional ammunition. The designs for such firearms can be easily found, downloaded and shared from the internet with 'enthusiasts' developing ever more sophisticated designs. In environments where lawful possession of firearms is strongly controlled, the ability to manufacture and assemble firearms through 3D printing technologies presents an increasing challenge for law enforcement, especially for forensic units tasked with collection, examination and recovery of evidence from these items. Forensic examination of 3D printed firearms can require a different approach compared to conventional firearms if maximum forensic intelligence is desired. Due to the decentralised and often individual nature of manufacture, biometric identification of both the handler/possessor and the manufacturer/assembler of the firearm can have investigative value. However, this can present a dilemma, as collection of biometric evidence from internal surfaces of the firearm typically requires dismantling of components which may affect functionality in subsequent test firing processes. This study aims to investigate DNA transfer and recovery on 3D printed firearms (Harlot pistols and FGC-9) in casework-inspired handling scenarios, to determine the most probative regions for the recovery of DNA originating from the assembler and handler of such firearms as well as determining the effect of firing (or test-firing) the firearm. The findings suggest that assembler DNA can be recovered from internal surfaces of the firearms, with significantly more DNA recovered from internal grip pieces than internal triggers. Further, the proportions of assembler DNA recovered on internal surfaces were significantly more than the proportions on external surfaces, based on contributor proportion percentages. In this study, test firing of the firearm, even up to 25 times, did not result in detectable DNA relocation onto internal surfaces from the individual conducting the test fires.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194757