Intratec TEC-9
Intratec · Pistol · Discontinued · 1985
Also known as: TEC-9, TEC-DC9, Intratec AB-10, Interdynamic KG-9
Overview
The Intratec TEC-9 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, designed by Swedish engineer George Kellgren and manufactured in Miami, Florida by Intratec from 1985 until 2001. Evolved from Kellgren's earlier open-bolt KG-9 - which was reclassified as a machine gun by the ATF in 1982, prompting a redesign to closed-bolt striker-fired operation - the TEC-9 became one of the most recognizable compact pistols of the late 1980s and 1990s. It features a stamped sheet-metal lower receiver, a distinctive polymer upper receiver with an integral ventilated barrel shroud, and a threaded, exposed muzzle that accepts accessories. The 127 mm barrel and pistol configuration (no shoulder stock) legally classified it as a handgun, while its oversized 20, 32, 36, and 50-round detachable box magazines and submachine-gun aesthetic gave it an outsized presence in popular culture. Simple, inexpensive to produce, and chambered in a widely available caliber, the TEC-9 developed a cult following in civilian markets - but its blowback action, long magazine hanging below a slim grip, and crude open sights made it notoriously inaccurate and unpleasant to shoot well. After the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban outlawed the TEC-9 and TEC-DC9 by name, Intratec produced the AB-10 ("After Ban 10") compliance variant with a shorter magazine and no threaded muzzle; the company ceased operations in 2001.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1400 g (49.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 317 mm (12.48") |
| Barrel Length | 127 mm (5.00") |
| Height | 216 mm (8.50") |
| Width | 38 mm (1.50") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 32 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 365 m/s (1198 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 496 J (366 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Stamped Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Firing Pin Block
- Features: Threaded Barrel, Barrel Shroud, Extended Magazine Compatible, Polymer Upper Receiver, Stamped Steel Lower, Exposed Barrel Threads, Rear Sling Loop
Variants
- Intratec KG-9 — Predecessor
- Intratec KG-99 — Closed Bolt Variant
- Intratec TEC-DC9 — Compliance Variant
- Intratec TEC-9M — Compact Variant
- Intratec TEC-9S — Stainless Variant
- Intratec AB-10 — Post Ban Variant
Production
Estimated total produced: 250,000 · Production years: 1985-2001
Approximately 250,000+ units produced across the KG-9, TEC-9, TEC-DC9, TEC-9M, TEC-9S, and AB-10 variants before Intratec ceased operations in 2001. The TEC-9 and TEC-DC9 were banned by name under the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: George Kellgren
Discontinued: 2001
Notes
The original KG-9 was an open-bolt design considered readily convertible to full-auto and was reclassified by the ATF as a machine gun in 1982, forcing a redesign. The TEC-DC9 ("Designed for Compliance") removed threaded barrel features to evade state-level assault weapon legislation prior to the 1994 federal ban. Intratec was founded as a US subsidiary of Interdynamic AB of Sweden.
Background
Designer George Kellgren left Intratec and went on to found Kel-Tec CNC Industries in 1991, producing far more conventional (and widely respected) firearms including the P-11, SUB-2000, and KSG shotgun. The TEC-9 became infamous after its use in the 1993 101 California Street shooting - which directly influenced the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban that outlawed it by name - and later the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, where an AB-10 compliance variant was used. Despite its rough reputation among shooters for poor accuracy, the weapon's menacing profile earned it a starring role in dozens of 1990s action films and music videos, cementing it as a cultural shorthand for urban street crime.