Mr. Eisenberg. And if the hammer has not been pulled all the way back, the rebound slide will not allow the firing pin to strike the cartridge?
Mr. Cunningham. That is correct.
Mr. Eisenberg. Now, Officer McDonald's statement that the primer of one round was dented on misfire: as far as you can tell, could this statement be confirmed?
Mr. Cunningham. No, sir; we found nothing to indicate that this weapon's firing pin had struck the primer of any of these cartridges.
Mr. Eisenberg. Now, if the firing pin had struck the primer, it could only have been after the trigger was pulled all the way back, under the discussion you have just given us, is that correct?
Mr. Cunningham. Or after cocking.
Mr. Eisenberg. Or after it had been cocked and pulled?
Mr. Cunningham. Yes; if it is in the cocked position, grabbing the cylinder will do you no good; due to the fact that in the very operation of cocking this weapon, the cylinder is rotated, and it is ready to be fired.
Mr. Eisenberg. Now, in either event, the hammer would have traveled almost to the outermost extremity to which it can go. That is, the hammer would have traveled back all the way, whether it was cocked or fired in a double-action manner. If that had happened, what would the likelihood be that upon returning to the cartridge case, it would not fire the cartridge case—that upon returning to the cartridge, the cartridge would not be fired?
Mr. Cunningham. You mean actually the hammer had gone all the way through its cycle?