TEC-9

TEC-9 / TEC-DC9 / AB-10
TEC-DC9M
Type	Handgun
Place of origin	Sweden United States
Production history
Designer	George Kelgren
Manufacturer	Intratec
Produced	Circa 1985 to 1994
Specifications
Weight	1.23 kg–1.4 kg depending on model
Length	241 mm–317 mm depending on model
Barrel length	76 mm–127 mm depending on model
Cartridge	9x19mm Parabellum
Action	Blowback-operated, semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity	1100 ft/s (335 m/s)
Effective range	25 m
Feed system	10, 20, 32, 36 and 50 round box magazine.

The Intratec TEC-DC9 (TEC-9) is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic firearm, chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, and classified by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms as a handgun. Designed by Intratec, an American offshoot of Interdynamic AB, it is made of inexpensive molded polymers and stamped steel parts. Magazines with 10-, 20-, 32-, 36- and upwards of 50-rounds are made. The three models are referred to as the TEC-9, although only one model was sold under that name.

The TEC-9 was not accepted by any armed forces leading to its use as a civilian gun. The civilian model of the TEC-9 quickly became a favorite gun of criminals due to its intimidating looks, low price and the relative ease with which the original TEC-9 models could be converted into illegal automatic guns. Because of this reputation, the TEC-9 and eventually, TEC-DC9 variants, were listed among the 19 firearms banned by name in the USA by the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB). This ban caused the cessation of their manufacture, and forced Intratec to introduce a newer model called the AB-10.

After the AWB, Intratec introduced the AB-10, a TEC-9 Mini with a threaded muzzle and limited to a 10 round magazine instead of a 20 or 32 round magazine. However, it accepted the high capacity magazines of the pre-ban models.

The TEC-9 is an offshoot of a design from a Swedish company, Interdynamic AB of Stockholm. Intended as a cheap submachine gun based on the Carl Gustav M/45 for military applications, Interdynamic did not find a government buyer, and the gun did not enter production.

Controversy

The weapon was the subject of controversy following its use in the 101 California Street shootings and later the Columbine High School massacre. The gun was banned by name in the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. California amended its 1989 Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act (AWCA) later in 1999, effective January 2000, to ban firearms having features such as barrel shrouds. In 2001, the California Supreme Court ruled that Intratec was not liable for the 1993 California Street attacks. In that same year, the company went out of business and production of the AB-10 model ceased.

See also

• Intratec TEC-22

External links

• Manual TEC-9 TEC-9 Mini TEC-9 Stainless—Intratec 9 manual (PDF) at Nazarian's Gun Recognition Guide
• Interdynamic KG-9 Manual

"California Supreme Court Turns Back Gun Foes in Merrill v. Navegar". Findlaw. Retrieved 2010-01-20. 

"Assault Weapons: The Case Against The TEC-9". Retrieved 2010-01-20. 

"Columbine Gun's Maker Closes Up; Legal Battles Ensnarled Navegar and TEC-9 Pistol". The Washington Post (August 18, 2001).

"The hidden culprits at columbine". Salon. Retrieved 2010-01-20. 

"Intratec". Violence Policy Center. Retrieved 2010-01-20. 

Silveira v. Lockyer, 2002, 9th Circuit

A California AR/AK “Series” Assault Weapon FAQ…