Intratec TEC-DC9

The Intratec TEC-9 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic 9x19mm Parabellum caliber firearm, classified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms as a handgun. It is made of inexpensive molded polymer and stamped steel parts. Magazines holding 10-, 20-, 32-, 36- and upwards of 50-round capacities are available. There are three different models, all of which are commonly referred to as the TEC-9, although only one model was actually sold under that name.

History
The TEC-9 was originally designed by Swedish company Interdynamic AB of Stockholm as the MP-9, intended as a cheap submachine gun based on the Carl Gustaf M/45 for military applications. Interdynamic was unable to acquire interest among governments, and the MP-9 never entered production. Unwilling to abandon the design, Interdynamic set up a U.S. subsidiary to market a semiautomatic version of the handgun to civilians. The MP-9 was redesigned by George Kellgren, and became the model KG-9, which represents the initials of the firearm's designers, George Kellgren and Carlos Garcia.

From its submachine gun heritage, the original TEC-9, model KG-9, featured an open bolt design which made it relatively easy to convert illegally to a fully automatic submachine gun. Criminals soon discovered this fact and the TEC-9 became associated in the public's mind with gang violence, especially from drive-by shootings.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) responded in 1982 by forcing Interdynamic &mdash; by then known as Intratec &mdash; to convert the design to a closed-bolt action that would be harder to make fully automatic. The closed-bolt model was designated the KG-99 and was marketed at first as the TEC-9 and later as the TEC-DC9. The fearsome reputation of the TEC-9 kept its popularity high among criminals even though few if any were able to convert the TEC-DC9 to full auto.

The TEC-9 and TEC-DC9 variants were listed by name in the 19 firearms banned by name by the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. This ban caused the cessation of their manufacture, and forced Intratec to introduce a newer model called the AB-10 (for "After Ban") that lacked a barrel shroud and threaded muzzle.

The TEC-DC9 variant was among the weapons used by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold in the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre. Two years after Columbine, in 2001, Intratec went out of business and the AB-10 model production ceased.

The use of the TEC-DC9 at Columbine in April 1999 also led California to amend its 1989 Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act (AWCA) later the same year, effective January 2000, to ban firearms having newly-introduced firearm features used at Columbine (e.g., pistols with barrel shrouds, a safety device). 

Manual

 * Nazarian's Gun Recognition Guide (MANUAL) Intratec 9 Manual (.pdf)