Philippine Small Arms Development Floro FIC Mk-9 9mm submachine gun Crimebuster: Lt. Col. Antonio Supnet, head of the Armed Forces anti-crime task force, displays a machine pistol recently acquired by the unit for its campaign against criminality. (courtesy of The Philippine Star, June 29, 2001, Boy Santos) Indigenous submachine gun designs have not been enthusiastically pursued in the Philippines until recently owing to the abundance of surplus American weapons such as the M3, and the popularity of other designs such as the Israeli Uzi and the H&K MP5. Despite this, Floro International of Tanay, Rizal has developed its Mk-9 series of submachine guns and has made some sales to the AFP's Anti-Crime Task Force and to the Navy's Special Warfare Group.
Information on the Mk-9 series is spotty but close observation of availabe photographs and conversations with officers provides some details. The Mk 9 is a blowback weapon with a tubular upper receiver and formed sheet metal magazine housing and lower receiver. The long magazine housing has the Uzi-type magazine interface at the bottom and the weapon uses Uzi magazines which are readily available.	Note magazine and magazine interface on the Mini-Uzi

The Mk-9 fires from a closed bolt and uses the trigger group parts of the M-16 automatic rifle. Note the pin-placements and fire selector switch which are similar to that of the M-16. It does not have a bolt hold-open device, though.	Compare Mk-9 pin placement and fire-selector switch to M16
Firing from a closed bolt offers an advantage over open-bolt weapons such as the M3, Mac-10/11 and the Uzi. In an open bolt system the bolt is cocked back and pulling the trigger releases the heavy bolt to strip a round from the magazine, chamber and fire it. This forward movement usually spoils the firer's aim. In closed bolt submachine guns the weapon is cocked by pulling the bolt back (which cocks the hammer) and releasing it to move forward (which strips a round from the magazine and chambers it but does not fire). On releasing the trigger the only movement is the hammer striking the firing pin. The sights are not as crude as other submachine guns. It uses the M-16 type pistol grip, has a perforated metal handguard and a compensator to reduce muzzle climb. There is a cocking knob and slot at the left-hand side of the tubular receiver. The Mk-19 is the short-barrelled version of the Mk-9, with a more compact folding stock and no compensator. I have not received any reports of the Mk-9 or Mk-19's performance in the field. However, evaluation by the Philippine Marine Corps was favorable and the weapon was recommended for adoption for armor crews, military police and counter-terrorist units. Minor changes in the design of the buttstock were made. A request was placed for 100 units for the Navy. Cost is around PHP35,000 per unit making it a cost-effective alternative to the more expensive H&K MP-5. This is the production model of the Mk-19. Note changes to the butt-stock, perforated metal handguard, compensator, and polymer grip around the magazine housing. If you have more information, corrections or comments please send them to me at opus@timawa.net. http://www.floro-intl.com/news.htm Opus / 12-20-2003