Post by BoW GaCAman on Sept 16, 2014 12:51:30 GMT -5
KEL-TEC
I have a long association with this company, and their guns. Not as far as working for them, but rather, owning. I recently contacted Kel-Tec to inquire about them producing a double-column (high-cap) version of their little P3AT .380 handgun and was pleasantly surprised to find out that their founder George Kellgren has a son, named Derek. He is in his mid-30's and is a VP of the company. That bodes well for the future of this company, now the 6th largest firearms maker in the US.
My first 'Kel-Tec' was called a Grendel, even before the company became K-T. It was a pretty crappy little .380 not nearly as small as the current P3AT, but got me started with them. I later moved up/into a P-11 9mm, which protected me for several years.
Kel-Tec: Made in America; Defending America
By: Tara Dixon-Engel
In an age when America’s manufacturing vigor seems to be waning, Kel-Tec proves that innovation and ingenuity are alive and well in American industry.
A tour of the Kel-Tec facility in Cocoa, Florida reveals much about the country’s sixth largest gun manufacturer. For starters, it serves to dispel a number of the myths that are often debated across the gun counter. The most popular fallacy is that Kel-Tec is behind in production because they have turned their efforts toward a multitude aerospace contracts.
“That’s an old one,” says Derek Kellgren, VP of Operations and Marketing Manager, as well as son of Kel-Tec’s founder George Kellgren, who is also still active in the company's day-to-day operations. “We’ve heard that one so often that I finally googled 'Kel-Tec' and discovered that there IS an aerospace company in Florida by the same name, minus the hyphen. But they are no relation to us in any way, shape or form.”
The VP acknowledges that, like most gun manufacturers today, Kel-Tec IS behind in fulfilling orders, but the reason is universal – demand is outpacing supply by staggering numbers. “We are currently running at the highest production level in our history. We have begun outsourcing some of the parts in order to try and catch up to demand, and we’re beginning to make some progress,” Derek explained, adding that many more KSGs are starting to roll off the line even as production ramps up on PMR-30s, RFBs, and Sub-2000s, as well.
Just The Cocoa Plant
Derek also quickly dismisses a recent rumor that Kel-Tec has a second plant in Miami. “I have no idea where that one comes from, but you’re looking at the sum total of our operation, right here in Cocoa,” he says. And that sum total is an impressive package wrapped in a comparatively “small box.” What began in one modest building on Cox Road has sprawled into five buildings now composed of Kel-Tec and Brevard Robotics, a Kellgren-owned subsidiary that makes the parts for the Kel-Tec firearms. Almost 200 employees working three shifts man the 22-year-old company. The pride felt by those employees, and by management, is palpable throughout the tour. Workers eagerly demonstrate their machinery, ranging from the button rifler that uses pressure to create lands and grooves in gun barrels, to the Mazak VTC milling machine that fashions a block of aircraft-grade aluminum into a glistening PF-9 frame, to the state-of-the-art laser cutter whose high intensity beam cuts sheet metal into precision firearms parts. And, while the equipment is technically advanced, it is still dependant on skilled hands and wise heads. And that skill and wisdom come in handy in a the facility that hums almost 24-7 with production.
Lead Production Consultant/Plant Supervisor Kevin Butler explains that the company’s approach to quality includes CNC machining its the parts, versus forging them. “It is a more precise process and it means that the end product is stronger and more durable,” Butler explained, adding, “This company really has a history of ingenuity and a thoughtful approach to firearms manufacturing. George Kellgren has been at the leading edge of the industry for years and much of what you’ve seen in firearms innovation nationwide over the past two decades grew out of ideas initiated at Kel-Tec.”
Kellgren Deserves Credit
Butler notes that Kel-Tec was one of the first companies to begin producing easily concealed .380 and 9 mm pistols, with its P-3AT and the P-F9, both still popular sellers. The advent of the unique 13-round KSG shotgun propelled the little Florida manufacturer from “best kept shooter’s secret” to recognized contender, thus giving George Kellgren some of the credit that Butler says he has deserved all along.
And it is clear that Kellgren and his son treat the company as something more than a source of revenue. They are passionate supporters of the second amendment and conscientious stewards of the American Dream, something that George – a Swedish immigrant – understands from outside in. One of the managers on the production room floor commented, “sure, as a company, we occasionally have internal debates and discussions but it’s always more like squabbles between family members. You kind of expect it, deal with it, and, in the end, we get things resolved and get the job done.”
For Butler, it is reassuring to have a second generation of Kellgrens sharing the helm. “Derek has the same commitment and work ethic as George, and the same pride in producing quality American-made firearms,” the manager says, “and with the two of them on the job, this company has really just begun to innovate and produce.”
The Products of Kel-Tec: (side bar)
By Tara Dixon Engel
Kel-tec builds 16 different handguns, shotguns and rifles, with the ones featured below among the most sought-after. Under normal circumstances, Olde English carries most if not all of them. However, given the current demand across the country, please check with us to see if we currently have a particular model in stock.
Handguns
In the concealable handgun arena, Kel-Tec offers the P-3AT, the PF-9, and the P-11. The P3AT, chambered in .380 acp, is as concealable as anything in the market today. A simple firearm with few bells and whistles, it is nonetheless a “gut gun” that is comparable in portability and functionality to the Ruger LCP and the Taurus TCP. It is not for those who are unfamiliar with firearms or those who have trouble wracking slides. It packs a decent punch, recoil-wise, but its primary function is concealability – and that it delivers in spades. A little larger and chambered in 9 mm is the PF-9. Like Ruger’s LC9 and Taurus’ 709 Slim (and the almost-impossible-to-get Smith and Wesson Shield), the PF-9 is designed to be a slim and lightweight 9 mm. It is fits that bill perfectly, but, again, it is not necessarily a gun that most new shooters would immediately fall in love with. The PF-9 packs a serious hand-smack with every shot. But it is an accurate, durable and inexpensive little gun. For a lighter recoil and only slightly more bulk, the 9 mm P-11, offers a more comfortable shoot, an equally pleasant price, and, at 14 ounces (compared to the PF-9’s 12.7 oz), it can still be comfortable dropped into a pocket or tucked into a belt. In a recent trip to the range, the author put roughly 40 rounds through the P-11 and found that its accuracy is equal to many of the larger, longer barreled 9s on the market (the Springfield XD for instance). Each of Kel-Tec’s concealable handguns has an internal hammer block safety mechanism. All are sturdy, dependable little guns.
One of Kel-tec’s most popular handguns is its Zytel-framed PMR-30, a .22 WMR handgun that offers a comfortable, accurate shoot in a reasonably priced gun. With .22 LR ammo disappearing off the shelves at an alarming rate, .22 mag is still findable in most locations, so grab your PMR and laugh at the guys who are sadly cradling their ammo-starved Buckmarks, Mark IIIs and P-22s. This lightweight handgun was tagged “best in class” by Gun Tests magazine in 2011.
Rifles
In the rifle arena, Kel-tec’s SUB-2000 series continues to be very much in demand. The SUB-2000 is a self-loading carbine chambered for pistol cartridges. Different versions of the SUB-2000 will accept most modern handgun magazines, including Glock, Beretta, Sig Sauer and Smith & Wesson. With extended range and greater accuracy possible, the Sub-2000 does not stay on shelves for very long, and Kel-Tec advertising confidently notes that, “The amount of training to master the SUB-2000 is only a fraction of that required for a handgun.” This probably explains why it remains a tough gun to get.
The KSG
Whatever you say about Kel-tec, be sure and include “innovative” as one of the key descriptors. The KSG shotgun sent ripples of excitement and curiousity through the shooting world when it debuted in 2012. The KSG was Kel-Tec’s first foray into the shotgun field. The size, shape, and design is similar to the company’s RFB rifle, but the KSG ejects downward, instead of forward, and weighs in at 6.9 lbs. with an 18.5” cylinder bore barrel and a 26.1” overall length. Despite the durable Zytel-framed shotgun’s conservative size, its internal dual tube magazines hold an impressive 12 rounds of 12 gauge 3” rounds in total (6 per tube). Kel-Tec says the gun can reliably shoot shells ranging from 1 3/4" up to the 3" length. The tragedy of this little pump shotgun is that Congress already has it in its sights for “control.” As of January 2013, the KSG was among those “assault weapons” targeted by the gun control lobby for banning. While efforts to ban assault weapons are proving to be a bit of a challenge, much vigilence and communication with legislators is still required in order to show our support for the second amendment and the manufacturers like Kel-Tec that serve our country’s right to keep and bear arms.
And, if you have all the guns you could possibly ever need (perish the thought!), or you are stuck on a waiting list for one of Kel-Tec’s innovative firearms, don’t forget that this versatile company also makes an amazing new flashlight that truly conquers the darkness. At 420 lumens, the CL-42 is one of the brightest (if not THE brightest) small flashlights available. It is so bright that company employees warn you to NOT stare into the “business end” of the flashlight. If you want to test that theory, just shine the light on a sheet of paper to get a feel for the bounce-back illumination (and be prepared to see spots for a few minutes.)
We look forward to the next round of innovative products from this plucky little company that truly personifies the American Dream.
I have a long association with this company, and their guns. Not as far as working for them, but rather, owning. I recently contacted Kel-Tec to inquire about them producing a double-column (high-cap) version of their little P3AT .380 handgun and was pleasantly surprised to find out that their founder George Kellgren has a son, named Derek. He is in his mid-30's and is a VP of the company. That bodes well for the future of this company, now the 6th largest firearms maker in the US.
My first 'Kel-Tec' was called a Grendel, even before the company became K-T. It was a pretty crappy little .380 not nearly as small as the current P3AT, but got me started with them. I later moved up/into a P-11 9mm, which protected me for several years.
Kel-Tec: Made in America; Defending America
By: Tara Dixon-Engel
In an age when America’s manufacturing vigor seems to be waning, Kel-Tec proves that innovation and ingenuity are alive and well in American industry.
A tour of the Kel-Tec facility in Cocoa, Florida reveals much about the country’s sixth largest gun manufacturer. For starters, it serves to dispel a number of the myths that are often debated across the gun counter. The most popular fallacy is that Kel-Tec is behind in production because they have turned their efforts toward a multitude aerospace contracts.
“That’s an old one,” says Derek Kellgren, VP of Operations and Marketing Manager, as well as son of Kel-Tec’s founder George Kellgren, who is also still active in the company's day-to-day operations. “We’ve heard that one so often that I finally googled 'Kel-Tec' and discovered that there IS an aerospace company in Florida by the same name, minus the hyphen. But they are no relation to us in any way, shape or form.”
The VP acknowledges that, like most gun manufacturers today, Kel-Tec IS behind in fulfilling orders, but the reason is universal – demand is outpacing supply by staggering numbers. “We are currently running at the highest production level in our history. We have begun outsourcing some of the parts in order to try and catch up to demand, and we’re beginning to make some progress,” Derek explained, adding that many more KSGs are starting to roll off the line even as production ramps up on PMR-30s, RFBs, and Sub-2000s, as well.
Just The Cocoa Plant
Derek also quickly dismisses a recent rumor that Kel-Tec has a second plant in Miami. “I have no idea where that one comes from, but you’re looking at the sum total of our operation, right here in Cocoa,” he says. And that sum total is an impressive package wrapped in a comparatively “small box.” What began in one modest building on Cox Road has sprawled into five buildings now composed of Kel-Tec and Brevard Robotics, a Kellgren-owned subsidiary that makes the parts for the Kel-Tec firearms. Almost 200 employees working three shifts man the 22-year-old company. The pride felt by those employees, and by management, is palpable throughout the tour. Workers eagerly demonstrate their machinery, ranging from the button rifler that uses pressure to create lands and grooves in gun barrels, to the Mazak VTC milling machine that fashions a block of aircraft-grade aluminum into a glistening PF-9 frame, to the state-of-the-art laser cutter whose high intensity beam cuts sheet metal into precision firearms parts. And, while the equipment is technically advanced, it is still dependant on skilled hands and wise heads. And that skill and wisdom come in handy in a the facility that hums almost 24-7 with production.
Lead Production Consultant/Plant Supervisor Kevin Butler explains that the company’s approach to quality includes CNC machining its the parts, versus forging them. “It is a more precise process and it means that the end product is stronger and more durable,” Butler explained, adding, “This company really has a history of ingenuity and a thoughtful approach to firearms manufacturing. George Kellgren has been at the leading edge of the industry for years and much of what you’ve seen in firearms innovation nationwide over the past two decades grew out of ideas initiated at Kel-Tec.”
Kellgren Deserves Credit
Butler notes that Kel-Tec was one of the first companies to begin producing easily concealed .380 and 9 mm pistols, with its P-3AT and the P-F9, both still popular sellers. The advent of the unique 13-round KSG shotgun propelled the little Florida manufacturer from “best kept shooter’s secret” to recognized contender, thus giving George Kellgren some of the credit that Butler says he has deserved all along.
And it is clear that Kellgren and his son treat the company as something more than a source of revenue. They are passionate supporters of the second amendment and conscientious stewards of the American Dream, something that George – a Swedish immigrant – understands from outside in. One of the managers on the production room floor commented, “sure, as a company, we occasionally have internal debates and discussions but it’s always more like squabbles between family members. You kind of expect it, deal with it, and, in the end, we get things resolved and get the job done.”
For Butler, it is reassuring to have a second generation of Kellgrens sharing the helm. “Derek has the same commitment and work ethic as George, and the same pride in producing quality American-made firearms,” the manager says, “and with the two of them on the job, this company has really just begun to innovate and produce.”
The Products of Kel-Tec: (side bar)
By Tara Dixon Engel
Kel-tec builds 16 different handguns, shotguns and rifles, with the ones featured below among the most sought-after. Under normal circumstances, Olde English carries most if not all of them. However, given the current demand across the country, please check with us to see if we currently have a particular model in stock.
Handguns
In the concealable handgun arena, Kel-Tec offers the P-3AT, the PF-9, and the P-11. The P3AT, chambered in .380 acp, is as concealable as anything in the market today. A simple firearm with few bells and whistles, it is nonetheless a “gut gun” that is comparable in portability and functionality to the Ruger LCP and the Taurus TCP. It is not for those who are unfamiliar with firearms or those who have trouble wracking slides. It packs a decent punch, recoil-wise, but its primary function is concealability – and that it delivers in spades. A little larger and chambered in 9 mm is the PF-9. Like Ruger’s LC9 and Taurus’ 709 Slim (and the almost-impossible-to-get Smith and Wesson Shield), the PF-9 is designed to be a slim and lightweight 9 mm. It is fits that bill perfectly, but, again, it is not necessarily a gun that most new shooters would immediately fall in love with. The PF-9 packs a serious hand-smack with every shot. But it is an accurate, durable and inexpensive little gun. For a lighter recoil and only slightly more bulk, the 9 mm P-11, offers a more comfortable shoot, an equally pleasant price, and, at 14 ounces (compared to the PF-9’s 12.7 oz), it can still be comfortable dropped into a pocket or tucked into a belt. In a recent trip to the range, the author put roughly 40 rounds through the P-11 and found that its accuracy is equal to many of the larger, longer barreled 9s on the market (the Springfield XD for instance). Each of Kel-Tec’s concealable handguns has an internal hammer block safety mechanism. All are sturdy, dependable little guns.
One of Kel-tec’s most popular handguns is its Zytel-framed PMR-30, a .22 WMR handgun that offers a comfortable, accurate shoot in a reasonably priced gun. With .22 LR ammo disappearing off the shelves at an alarming rate, .22 mag is still findable in most locations, so grab your PMR and laugh at the guys who are sadly cradling their ammo-starved Buckmarks, Mark IIIs and P-22s. This lightweight handgun was tagged “best in class” by Gun Tests magazine in 2011.
Rifles
In the rifle arena, Kel-tec’s SUB-2000 series continues to be very much in demand. The SUB-2000 is a self-loading carbine chambered for pistol cartridges. Different versions of the SUB-2000 will accept most modern handgun magazines, including Glock, Beretta, Sig Sauer and Smith & Wesson. With extended range and greater accuracy possible, the Sub-2000 does not stay on shelves for very long, and Kel-Tec advertising confidently notes that, “The amount of training to master the SUB-2000 is only a fraction of that required for a handgun.” This probably explains why it remains a tough gun to get.
The KSG
Whatever you say about Kel-tec, be sure and include “innovative” as one of the key descriptors. The KSG shotgun sent ripples of excitement and curiousity through the shooting world when it debuted in 2012. The KSG was Kel-Tec’s first foray into the shotgun field. The size, shape, and design is similar to the company’s RFB rifle, but the KSG ejects downward, instead of forward, and weighs in at 6.9 lbs. with an 18.5” cylinder bore barrel and a 26.1” overall length. Despite the durable Zytel-framed shotgun’s conservative size, its internal dual tube magazines hold an impressive 12 rounds of 12 gauge 3” rounds in total (6 per tube). Kel-Tec says the gun can reliably shoot shells ranging from 1 3/4" up to the 3" length. The tragedy of this little pump shotgun is that Congress already has it in its sights for “control.” As of January 2013, the KSG was among those “assault weapons” targeted by the gun control lobby for banning. While efforts to ban assault weapons are proving to be a bit of a challenge, much vigilence and communication with legislators is still required in order to show our support for the second amendment and the manufacturers like Kel-Tec that serve our country’s right to keep and bear arms.
And, if you have all the guns you could possibly ever need (perish the thought!), or you are stuck on a waiting list for one of Kel-Tec’s innovative firearms, don’t forget that this versatile company also makes an amazing new flashlight that truly conquers the darkness. At 420 lumens, the CL-42 is one of the brightest (if not THE brightest) small flashlights available. It is so bright that company employees warn you to NOT stare into the “business end” of the flashlight. If you want to test that theory, just shine the light on a sheet of paper to get a feel for the bounce-back illumination (and be prepared to see spots for a few minutes.)
We look forward to the next round of innovative products from this plucky little company that truly personifies the American Dream.
