New Test Affirms Validity of Microstamping Technology

May 24, 2007

New Test Affirms Validity of Microstamping Technology

Seattle, WA (May 25, 2007) ?NanoMark Technologies, a division
of ID Dynamics, recently completed a rigorous test of the
microstamping process that demonstrates the validity and
efficacy of this exciting, evolutionary new technology.

Microstamping utilizes lasers to make microscopic engravings
on the breech face and firing pin of a gun. As the gun is
fired, the weapon's serial number is stamped onto the
cartridge. The technology promises to greatly aid law
enforcement officials in investigating homicides and other
crimes.

The NanoMark test was conducted in response to a recent study
by UC Davis graduate student Michael Beddow. Beddow claimed
that microstamping is ?feasible, but flawed? and argued that
more testing is needed before the technology can be
implemented in California. Several of Beddow?s assertions
were later discredited by UC Davis Chancellor Larry N.
Vanderhoef in a May 15 letter to California Assemblyman Mike
Feuer. Feuer has introduced legislation, AB 1471, that would
mandate manufacturer microstamping of all new semiautomatic
handgun models sold in California by 2010.

A report on Beddow?s study that he co-authored failed to
disclose several key factors about his testing, including
that he used non-optimized firing pins in vintage firearms in
the 10-50+ year age range. The NanoMark test sought to
rectify Beddow?s skewed observations by testing with a Smith
& Wesson (S&W) Model 4006 40 cal.

semiautomatic handgun that was outfitted with microstamping
technology using the ID Dynamics optimization protocol. This
firearm was tested with more than 2,500 rounds, using five
different brands of ammunition. The test was completed on May
23, 2007. The optimized S&W 4006 firing pin impression was
exceptionally repeatable and marked the primer of the
cartridge with a transfer rate of 100%, with all eight digits
of the gun?s serial number legible 97% of the time using
optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Even multiple hit primers?a condition that manifests itself
during very fast consecutive firing?were still legible by
scanning electron microscopy imaging methods. Breech face
marks, designed to provide an auxiliary source for forming
the code if the firing pin is defaced or replaced, provided
further opportunities to compile all eight digits. These
marks transferred 96% of the time.

May 24, 2007

This test confirms that a firearm outfitted with optimized
microstamping technology is more than capable of producing
codes onto cartridges. According to a 2000 study by the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF),
semiautomatic handguns have an average time-to-crime range of
1.6 to 6.4 years, which means that these guns are frequently
recovered after firing fewer than 500 rounds. The NanoMark
test involved five times that volume of cartridges and still
enjoyed near perfect transfer rates.

?The success of microstamping is based on two criteria:
optimizing the technology to the dynamic behavior of the
firearm and the use of appropriate imaging technology to
extract the code data off the cartridges,? said microstamping
co-inventor Todd Lizotte.

?If Michael Beddow would have allowed us access to the
firearms used in his test as we requested, we could have
optimized the firing pins. We are thankful that the
Chancellor of UC Davis has acknowledged that Beddow?s study
does not correlate to the true state of microstamping
technology or how it is applied to AB 1471.?



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Yours truly,

The Lone Weasel

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