Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ballistic parameters and trauma potential of direct-acting, powder-actuated fastening tools (nail guns)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since their introduction in the 1950s in the construction and building trade, powder-actuated fastening tools (nail guns) are of forensic and traumatological importance. There are countless reports on both accidental and intentional injuries and fatalities caused by these tools in medical literature. While the ballistic parameters of so-called low-velocity fastening tools, where the expanding gases act on a captive piston that drives the fastener into the material, are well known, ballistic parameters of “high-velocity” tools, which operate like a firearm and release the energy of the propellant directly on the fastener, are unknown. Therefore, it was the aim of this work to investigate external ballistic parameters of cal. 9 and 6-mm fastening bolts discharged from four different direct-acting nail guns (Type Ideal, Record Piccolo S, Rapid Hammer R300, Titan Type 1). Average muzzle velocity ranged from 400 to 580 m/s, while average kinetic energy of the projectiles ranged from 385 to 547 J. Mean energy density of the projectiles ranged from 9 to 18 J/mm2. To conclude, this work demonstrates that the muzzle velocity of direct-acting high-velocity tools is approximately five times higher than the muzzle velocity of piston-type tools. Hence, the much-cited comparison to the ballistic parameters of a cal. 22 handgun might be understated and a comparison to the widespread and well-known cal. 9 mm Luger might be more appropriate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jacoby W (1959) Bolzenschußverletzungen des Schädels. Chirurg 30:423–426

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Staudacher FX (1960) Verletzungen mit Bolzenschußgeräten. Mschr Unfallheilk 63:17–24

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Russe O (1960) Bolzenschußverletzungen. Klin Med 15:220–223

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bushe KA, Wenker A (1961) Schädel-Hirnverletzungen durch verschiedene Bolzenschußapparate. Chirurg 32:539–544

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wolff M, Laufer M (1965) Das Bolzenschußgerät der Bauindustrie als Selbstmordinstrument. Dtsch Ges wesen 20:394–397

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Koops E, Püschel K, Kleiber M, Janssen W, Möller G (1987) Todesfälle durch sogenannte Bolzenschußgeräte. Beitr Gerichtl Med 45:103–107

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lignitz E, Koops E, Püschel K (1988) Tod durch Bolzenschußgeräte - Eine retrospektive Analyse von 34 Fällen aus Berlin und Hamburg. Arch Kriminol 182:83–93

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kneubuehl BP, Coupland RM, Rothschild MA, Thali MJ (2008) Wundballistik. Grundlagen und Anwendungen. Springer, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  9. Powder Actuated Tool Manufacturers' Institute (2011) http://www.patmi.org/. Accessed 23 January 2011

  10. BG BAU (1996) BGV D9: Arbeiten mit Schußapparaten. http://www.bgbau-medien.de/site/asp/dms.asp?url=/uvv/45/inhalt.htm. Accessed 23 January 2011

  11. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (2011) Zulassungsliste §§ 7 und 8 BeschG. http://www.ptb.de/. Accessed 23 January 2011

  12. Mayer F, Lerm M, Graß H (2008) Kopfdurchschuss mit Bolzensetzgerät. Arch Kriminol 221:165–174

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung (1976) DIN 7260-1. Bolzensetzwerkzeuge; Begriffe, Konstruktion, Kennzeichnung, Beuth, Berlin

  14. DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung (1974) DIN 7260-2. Bolzensetzwerkzeuge; Bauartprüfung, Beuth, Berlin

  15. Spennato P, Bocchetti A, Mirone G, Savarese L, Squillante D, Rotondo M, Natale M (2005) Double concentric craniotomy for a craniocerebral penetrating nail. Case report and technical note. Surg Neurol 64:368–371

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Springborg JB, Eskesen V, Olsen NV, Gjerris F (2007) Cranio-cerebral injuries caused by nail guns: report on two cases, review of the literature and treatment algorithm. J Trauma 63:E59–E64

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Winder MJ, Monteith SJ, Lightfoot N, Mee E (2008) Penetrating head injury from nailguns: a case series from New Zealand. J Clin Neurosci 15:18–25

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Pierpont YN, Pappas-Politis E, Naidu DK, Salas RE, Johnson EL, Payne WG (2008) Nail-gun injuries to the hand. Eplasty 8:e52

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hoffman DR, Jebson PJ, Steyers CM (1997) Nail gun injuries of the hand. Am Fam Physician 56:1643–1646

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Nizam I, Choong PF (2003) The nail gun: injuries to the knee and chest. Injury 34:240–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Testerman GM, Dacks LM (2007) Multiple self-inflicted nail gun head injury. S Med J 100:608–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Sellier K (1982) Schußwaffen und Schußwirkungen I. Schmidt-Römhild, Lübeck

    Google Scholar 

  23. Karger B, Teige K (1995) Suizid mit einem Bolzensetzwerkzeug: Wundballistik und Einschußmorphologie. Arch Kriminol 195:153–158

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Vosswinkel JA, Bilfinger TV (1999) Cardiac nail gun injuries: lessons learned. J Trauma 47:588–590

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lee BL, Sternberg P (1996) Ocular nail gun injuries. Ophthalmology 103:1453–1457

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Beaver AC, Cheatham ML (1999) Life-threatening nail gun injuries. Am Surg 65:1113–1116

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wooltorton E (2002) Nail gun. JAMC 166:778

    Google Scholar 

  28. Nölke L, Naughton P, Shaw C, Hurley J, Wood AE (2005) Accidental nail gun injuries to the heart: diagnostic, treatment, and epidemiological considerations. J Trauma 58:172–174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Hatton MP, Chen SH, Bernardino CR, Rubin PA, D'Amico DJ, Eskandar E (2006) Trans-orbital foreign body with intracranial extension. J Trauma 61:752–754

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Braun RM (1971) Nail-gun injury of the hand. J Bone Joint Surg Am 53:383–384

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Franke E (1981) Ermittlung der Bewegungsenergie der Geschosse. In: Zobel KF (ed) PTB-Bericht W-19 Gesetzliche Munitionsprüfung. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig und Berlin, pp 27–31

    Google Scholar 

  32. Beck H, Reuter M (2005) Setzbolzen im Stahlbau. In: Kuhlmann U (ed) Stahlbaukalender 2005. Ernst & Sohn, Berlin, pp 671–724

    Google Scholar 

  33. Buchalter GM, Johnson LP, Reichmann MV, Jacobs J (2002) Penetrating trauma to the head and neck from a nail gun: a unique mechanism of injury. Ear Nose Throat 81:779–783

    Google Scholar 

  34. Bock H, Neu M, Betz P, Seidl S (2002) Unusual craniocerebral injury caused by a pneumatic nail gun. Int J Leg Med 116:279–281

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Große Perdekamp M, Kneubuehl BP, Ishikawa T, Nadjem H, Kromeier J, Pollak S, Thierauf A (2010) Secondary skull fractures in head wounds inflicted by captive bolt guns: autopsy findings and experimental simulation. Int J Leg Med 124:605–612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Nadjem H, Pollak S (1999) Einschußbefunde bei Verwendung von Viehbetäubungsapparaten ohne Schmauchabzugskanälchen. Arch Kriminol 203:91–102

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Weedn VW, Mittleman RE (1984) Stud guns revisited: report of a suicide and literature review. J Forensic Sci 29:670–678

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Brett RH, Lu PK, Aw CY (1998) Penetrating neck trauma from nail guns. Singapore Med J 39:217–219

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Shakir A, Koehler SA, Wecht CH (2003) A review of nail gun suicides and an atypical case report. J Forensic Sci 48:409–413

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Tuladhar S, Eltayeb A, Lakshmanan S, Yiu P (2009) Delayed presentation of right and left ventricle perforation due to suicidal nail gun injury. Ann Card Anaesth 12:136–139

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Karger B, Billeb E, Koops E, Brinkmann B (2002) Autopsy features relevant for discrimination between suicidal and homicidal gunshot injuries. Int J Leg Med 116:273–278

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Schmechta H, Weinke H (1970) Nahschußzeichen bei baugewerblichen Bolzenschußgeräten. Zschr f Mil Med 11:346–349

    Google Scholar 

  43. Spitz WU, Wilhelm RM (1970) Stud gun injuries. J Forensic Med 17:5–11

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Pollak S, Maurer H (1987) Zur klinischen Bedeutung der Imprimate bei Verletzungen durch Schlachtschußapparate. Acta Chir Austriaca 19:29–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Schmechta H, Ziegler M, Weinke H (1972) Studien zur Schußentfernungsbestimmung bei Schüssen aus baugewerblichen Bolzenschußgeräten. Arch Kriminol 149:11–20

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Ethical standards

Ethical approval was not required for this experimental investigation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Sauerbruchstrasse, 17475, Greifswald, Germany

    Matthias Frank & Axel Ekkernkamp

  2. Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Matthias Frank & Axel Ekkernkamp

  3. Working Group 1.33 Dynamic Pressure Measurement, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Braunschweig and Berlin, Braunschweig, Germany

    Ernst Franke & Holger C. Schönekeß

  4. Working Group Cartridge operated impact machinery for industrial and technical purposes in the Committee of experts from the German Social Accident Insurance, DGUV, Sankt Augustin, Germany

    Jörn Jorczyk

  5. Department of Legal Medicine, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

    Britta Bockholdt

Authors
  1. Matthias Frank
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ernst Franke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Holger C. Schönekeß
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jörn Jorczyk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Britta Bockholdt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Axel Ekkernkamp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Frank.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Frank, M., Franke, E., Schönekeß, H.C. et al. Ballistic parameters and trauma potential of direct-acting, powder-actuated fastening tools (nail guns). Int J Legal Med 126, 217–222 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-011-0584-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-011-0584-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation