Type Semi-automatic pistol Designer George Kellgren Weight 12.7 oz (360 g) | Place of origin United States Produced 2006–present | |
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Manufacturer Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc. | ||
The Kel-Tec PF-9 is a 9 mm caliber, recoil operated, locked breech, double action only, semi-automatic pistol based on (and sharing many parts with) Kel-Tec’s earlier P-11 and P-3AT models. Kel-Tec claims the PF-9 is the flattest and lightest 9 mm pistol ever mass-produced. It was designed as a concealment and backup weapon for law enforcement and for civilian concealed carry. Kel-Tec first announced the PF-9 in February 2006, and the new pistol was released into the market in the fall of 2006.
Design details
The PF-9 is manufactured in Cocoa, Florida, by Kel-Tec CNC Industries. Featuring extensive use of computer numerical control (CNC) manufacturing techniques, its six main components consist of the barrel, slide, frame, grip, trigger group, and magazine. The barrel is manufactured of SAE/AISI 4140 steel hardened to 48 RHC, and the slide is constructed of the same steel. The frame, which houses the trigger group, consists of a solid machined 7075-T56 aluminum billet. A transfer bar system connects the hammer and trigger. A hammer block safety is incorporated which helps prevent accidental discharge if the pistol is dropped. The long double-action-only trigger pull provides an additional safety feature. The pistol includes a slide hold-open feature which locks the slide in its rearmost position after the last round is fired. The grip is made of DuPont ST-8018 polymer and holds the steel, 7-round, single-column magazine. The sights consist of a fixed front blade and a windage-adjustable notched rear sight. Three white dots highlight the sights for optimum visibility in low-light conditions.
The PF-9 uses many parts originally designed for Kel-Tec’s P-11 and P-3AT models, and is a compromise between those pistols. From the P-11, the PF-9 uses a slightly modified barrel, trigger, ejector, and front sight. The P-3AT parts used in the PF-9 include the extractor and various springs. The grip is available in a variety of colors, while the slide is available in blued, Parkerized, ceramic (Cerakote), and hard chromed finishes. The PF-9 is shipped with an extended magazine floorplate, an Allen wrench for adjusting the rear sight, and an owner's manual.
The Kel-Tec PF-9 was the gun that George Zimmerman used to shoot Trayvon Martin in February 2012.