Calico M950 9mm "pistol" with 50 rounds magazine

Calico M950 9mm "pistol" with 50 rounds magazine

cut-out drawing of the Calico M950 pistol, showing its general layout and feed system

drawing from original patent, protecting the large-capacity magazine for 9mm Calico firearms (.22LR magazines were of slightly different design and thus were protected by another patent)

Data for Calico M960 submachine gun
Caliber: 9x19mm Luger/Para
Weight: 2.17 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open): 647 / 835 mm
Barrel length: 330 mm
Rate of fire: 750 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 50 or 100 rounds

The Calico submachine guns are somewhat mysterious and quite notorious in both design, concept and appearance. The key properties of Calico firearms were extremely large magazine capacity combined with slim profile and ambidextrous handling. First designs, introduced by the US based company Calico Light Weapon Systems (LWS) circa 1990, were intended for both Law Enforcement and Military markets (in either semi-auto or selective fired form, in 9mm) and for civilian market (semi-auto only, in pistol or carbine form, in 9mm and .22LR versions). Sales of these guns were not so bright, and the US Assault Weapons Ban of 1994, which limited magazine capacity for civilian guns to 10 rounds, further impacted the future of this weapon. Apparently, military and police sales during late 1990s were insufficient, and it seems that the Calico LWS company went out of business.