Examples of handwriting produced with several other writing instruments were also studied for imperfections in the written stroke and compared with those observed for the ball point pen. Tests confirmed that not all ball point pens exhibited imperfections in the written stroke and did not eliminate writer or ambient conditions as contributing to the occurrence of imperfections. Tests indicated, however, that ball point pens were more likely to produce imperfections than other writing instruments. The author concludes that the examination of imperfections may result in misinterpretation and incorrectly imply forgery and that naturally executed handwriting with a ball point pen may impart imperfections to the written trace that have less to do with the writer and more to do with the instrument. 24 references and 4 figures