Mr. Eisenberg. Were these also examined microscopically?
Mr. Cunningham. They were, individually.
Mr. Eisenberg. When you say there was no indication that they were struck by a firing pin, in your opinion, based on the construction of this weapon, if the firing pin had been drawn back to any extent and then released, would it have left a mark on one of the cartridges?
Mr. Cunningham. That is—yes and no. It depends on how far it is drawn back. As soon as the hammer internally clears the rebound block, the hammer is then able to go forward and it probably would have fired. But up to that point, the hammer is held back from striking, it cannot—under normal conditions—be made to fire a cartridge.
However, it has been found with this particular weapon, a drop of approximately 3 feet on the hammer would fire a cartridge in the chamber.
Representative Ford. How far back does the hammer have to be drawn in order to fire?
Mr. Cunningham. That can be shown very easily by holding the cylinder. By holding the cylinder, that distance can be seen, which is approximately 3/8 to 1/2 inch.
Mr. Eisenberg. The witness is demonstrating.
The hammer, as he says, is going back about 3/8 of an inch.
Mr. Cunningham. Once you allow the cylinder to rotate, then the rebound block is pushed out of the way, as you can see. Then you can cock the weapon.