A trained professional who is qualified to handle firearms will first determine the type of firearm, and subsequently determine the safest method of handling such artifact. Firearms are better handled by the grip surface. If it is not possible to handle the firearm by the grip, the next most secure area should be used. This may be any other surface that is checkered or stippled for traction. Not only do grip surfaces provide the safest surface to hold a firearm by, but they also offer the best chance of protecting biometric information, as these surfaces are less likely to harbor fingerprints, hair, etc. If safety requires gripping the barrel and possibly destroying fingerprints or brushing off DNA, hair and fiber, safety concerns always take precedence. If the gun is sufficiently small, the person handling the firearm can secure it in a bag, and do the same with any ammunition.124 Firearms can host various types of information. They may have fingerprints, DNA, blowback blood and tissue, fiber material, and potentially other transferred information. The firearm itself also has tool-marks, which it transfers to bullets and casings. Fired and unfired cartridges may also contain DNA or fingerprints. Bullets may bear the tool-marks from the interior of the rifled barrel. Wear gloves to protect against depositing fingerprints or DNA on the firearms. 125 Edged and Other Weapons Like firearms, ordinarily, edged and other weapons should only be handled by experts. If necessary to handle an edge, wrap the item in heavy cardboard, tape it securely, and place it in a large envelope to prevent any potential injury. Knives, glass, other edged weapons, screwdrivers, spear like items, etc., may still be inserted in victims. Usually, medical authorities prefer that the item remains in the victim until transported to hospital, where it can be removed safely. 126 Again, safety should always take precedence over the preservation of information. 124 Paul Laska, INTERFACE: A GUIDE FOR PROFESSIONALS SUPPORTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, 23 (2011). 125 Paul Laska, INTERFACE: A GUIDE FOR PROFESSIONALS SUPPORTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, 23 (2011). 126 Paul Laska, INTERFACE: A GUIDE FOR PROFESSIONALS SUPPORTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, 25 (2011). 93