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As KelTec marks 35 years in business, the US firearms manufacturer has recently launched two new products – the KP50 and MP50 – as well as releasing a brand-new compact iteration of its sub rifle in July 2026. For Founder George Kellgren, and his son Adrian Kellgren, Director of Operations, the timing feels fitting. Three and a half decades on from opening a CNC machine shop in Florida, KelTec has grown into a fully fledged firearms company, employing between 250 and 300 people and producing everything from compact pistols to hunting rifles for the US commercial market, global civilian markets, and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
We speak with George and Adrian on KelTec’ s anniversary, as they reflect on the decisions, setbacks, and innovations that have shaped the company’ s journey from a small machine shop into one of the best-known independent names in American firearms manufacturing. KelTec’ s story begins in 1991, when the business opened as a CNC machine shop primarily to support Grendel, George’ s first venture. That changed in 1995, when the 1994 assault weapons ban in the US rendered several of Grendel’ s products illegal overnight. Rather than retreat, George and his team transformed KelTec into a fully licensed firearms manufacturer, releasing its first compliant pistol, the P11 – demonstrating grit and adaptability in the face of regulatory and market change.
“ We continued on that trajectory, and our resilience has been a hallmark of KelTec ever since,” starts Adrian, describing how the business leveraged rapid innovation to rebuild itself around compliance rather than being derailed by it.“ We have carried on expanding our product range and manufacturing capability while staying firmly rooted in the same Florida operation.”
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