👉 A counted weapon, also known as a trace weapon or microscopic weapon, is a type of weapon that leaves behind very small, often microscopic, physical traces or marks that can be detected and analyzed for identification purposes. These traces can include fibers, hairs, soil particles, gunshot residue, or other minute materials that adhere to the weapon's surface during use. Unlike larger weapons, counted weapons require specialized equipment and techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), to identify and quantify these traces, making them valuable tools in forensic investigations for linking weapons to crime scenes or suspects.
