KelTec is a family-run Florida company known for unusual, lightweight designs, from tiny pocket pistols to bullpup shotguns. Founder George Kellgren is one of the most original gun designers of his generation.
Company at a glance
| Founded | 1991, Cocoa, Florida |
|---|---|
| Founder | George Kellgren |
| Headquarters | Cocoa, Florida |
| Ownership | Private, family-run |
| Status | In operation |
Locations and moves
KelTec started as a machine shop in Cocoa, Florida and became a gun maker in 1995. It bought a building in Rock Springs, Wyoming in 2022, its first site outside Florida, which opened in 2025 to build the PR57.
- Cocoa, Florida: headquarters and main plant
- Rock Springs, Wyoming: opened 2025
Timeline
- 1991 Founded as a CNC machine shop.
- 1995 First firearm, the P-11.
- 1999 P-32.
- 2001 SUB-2000 carbine.
- 2006 PF-9.
- 2010 PMR-30.
- 2011 KSG bullpup shotgun.
- 2022 P15 replaces the PF-9. Wyoming site bought.
- 2025 Rock Springs, Wyoming plant opens.
- 2026 35th anniversary.
Major pistols
| Model | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| P-32, P-3AT | Pocket .32 and .380 | Among the lightest pocket pistols |
| PF-9, P15 | Compact 9mm | Thin carry pistols |
| PMR-30 | .22 WMR | 30-round magazine |
| P17 | .22 LR | Budget plinker |
| P50, PR57 | 5.7x28mm | High capacity |
| P-11 | Compact 9mm | First KelTec, discontinued 2019 |
Also makes: the SUB-2000 folding carbine, RFB and RDB bullpup rifles and the KSG and KS7 shotguns.
Important people
- George Kellgren: founder and designer
- Adrian Kellgren: director of operations
- Derek Kellgren: director of sales and marketing
Notable events
- The P-32 is one of the smallest and lightest pocket pistols in production.
- The PF-9 was billed as the thinnest and lightest mass-produced 9mm.
- The KSG popularized the bullpup pump shotgun with twin magazine tubes.
- George Kellgren received the NRA Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award in 2019.
Videos
KelTec gallery
KelTec pistols from the Gun Websites collection.
More makers: Pistol Brands · New to pistols? Start with Where to Start.
Company details change. Information current as of October 2026.