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Penetrating chest trauma caused by a blank cartridge actuated rubber ball projectile: case presentation and ballistic investigation of an uncommon weapon type

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Abstract

Recently, an increasing number of an uncommon weapon type based on a caliber 6-mm Flobert blank cartridge actuated revolver which discharges 10-mm-diameter rubber ball projectiles has been confiscated by police authorities following criminal offenses. A recent trauma case presenting with a penetrating chest injury occasioned an investigation into the basic ballistic parameters of this type of weapon. Kinetic energy E of the test projectiles was calculated between 5.8 and 12.5 J. Energy density ED of the test projectiles was close to or higher than the threshold energy density of human skin. It can be concluded that penetrating skin injuries due to free-flying rubber ball projectiles discharged at close range cannot be ruled out. However, in case of a contact shot, the main injury potential of this weapon type must be attributed to the high energy density of the muzzle gas jet which may, similar to well-known gas or alarm weapons, cause life-threatening or even lethal injuries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, University Medicine Greifswald, Sauerbruchstraße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany

    Matthias Frank, Rico Grossjohann, Axel Ekkernkamp & Julia Seifert

  2. Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin (ukb), Warener Str. 7, 12683, Berlin, Germany

    Matthias Frank, Axel Ekkernkamp & Julia Seifert

  3. Landeskriminalamt Brandenburg (LKA BB), Forensic Institute, Tramper Chaussee 1, 16225, Eberswalde, Germany

    Dieter Peters

  4. Department of Thoracic Surgery, ELK Berlin Chest Hospital, Lindenberger Weg 27, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Wolfram Klemm

  5. Department of Legal Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Kuhstraße 30, 17489, Greifswald, Germany

    Britta Bockholdt

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  1. Matthias Frank
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  2. Dieter Peters
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  3. Wolfram Klemm
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  4. Rico Grossjohann
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  5. Axel Ekkernkamp
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  6. Britta Bockholdt
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  7. Julia Seifert
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Correspondence to Matthias Frank.

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Frank, M., Peters, D., Klemm, W. et al. Penetrating chest trauma caused by a blank cartridge actuated rubber ball projectile: case presentation and ballistic investigation of an uncommon weapon type. Int J Legal Med 131, 1307–1312 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1606-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1606-6

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