Which of the items is MOST likely to leave an identifiable tool mark?

A.
a bone knife missing a chip in its blade
B.
a brand new axe
C.
a screwdriver you just received as a gift
D.
a tungsten carbide drill bit

D. a tungsten carbide drill bit is most likely to leave an identifiable tool mark as it is specifically designed to drill holes in hard materials and will leave a distinct pattern on whatever it is used on.

A bullet that was used in a recent bank robbery has been secured. It is now trying to be determined if there is a link to other recent robberies in the area. What would be the BEST database to check to find this information?

A.
AFIS
B.
IBIS
C.
EGRET
D.
ANT

B. IBIS (Integrated Ballistics Identification System) would be the best database to check for information on the bullet used in the bank robbery and whether it is linked to other recent robberies in the area. IBIS allows law enforcement agencies to compare ballistic evidence from various crime scenes to see if they match, helping to identify potential suspects and patterns in criminal activity.

To determine which item is most likely to leave an identifiable tool mark, you need to consider the hardness and durability of the materials in each item.

Tool marks are usually left when an object comes into contact with another surface, leaving behind distinctive patterns or impressions. Hard and durable materials are more likely to leave identifiable tool marks.

Let's evaluate each item:

A. A bone knife missing a chip in its blade: Bone is relatively soft and not as durable compared to other materials. While it may leave some marks, the absence of a chip in the blade reduces its effectiveness in leaving distinct tool marks.

B. A brand new axe: Axes are typically made of steel, a hard and durable material. A brand new axe, with sharp edges, may leave deep and identifiable tool marks due to its hardness and cutting ability.

C. A screwdriver you just received as a gift: Screwdrivers are commonly made from steel, which is a hard material. However, since it is a hand tool with a relatively small contact area, the tool marks it leaves may not be as distinct as those left by larger tools.

D. A tungsten carbide drill bit: Tungsten carbide is an extremely hard and durable material commonly used in drill bits. Due to its hardness, a tungsten carbide drill bit is more likely to leave clear and identifiable tool marks.

Based on the evaluation, the tungsten carbide drill bit (option D) is most likely to leave an identifiable tool mark due to its hardness and durability.