Kel-Tec PF9
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 79 mm
- Weight, empty
- 360 g
- Introduced
- 2006
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Kel-Tec PF9 is a subcompact, lightweight, double-action-only semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum. Introduced in 2006 and designed by George Kellgren, it uses a short-recoil, locked-breech action with a polymer frame and steel slide, feeding from a flush-fit 7-round single-stack magazine. Weighing about 360 grams unloaded and roughly 22 mm wide, it was one of the slimmest and lightest 9mm pistols on the market, marketed for deep concealment and everyday carry.
The PF9 was widely regarded as the lightest and slimmest single-stack 9mm pistol available when it launched, packing a full 9mm Parabellum into a frame barely larger than many .380 pocket guns.
The PF9 combined the small frame of the earlier .380 ACP P3AT with the higher-capacity single-stack layout of the 9mm P11, giving a flat 7+1 concealed-carry pistol. Production ended in 2022.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Kel-Tec CNC Industries
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- United States
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 2006 to 2022
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 79 mm
- Overall length
- 149 mm
- Height
- 109 mm
- Width
- 22 mm
- Weight, empty
- 360 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Short recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Double action only
- Trigger
- Double action
- Capacity
- 7
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Slide
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Effective range
- 25 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
- Slide hold open
Windage adjustable rear sight
Accessory rail- Belt clip option
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 560 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 360 g | 765 g | Among the lightest tenth |
| Overall lengthAmong 559 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 149 mm | 191 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 569 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 79 mm | 105 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 571 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 7 | 15 | Holds fewer rounds than about 90% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the Kel-Tec PF9
How much does the Kel-Tec PF9 weigh?
The Kel-Tec PF9 weighs 360 g (12.7 oz) empty. It is the 2nd lightest of 560 9x19mm Parabellum pistols in the catalogue.
What caliber is the Kel-Tec PF9?
The Kel-Tec PF9 is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the Kel-Tec PF9 hold?
The Kel-Tec PF9 holds 7 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Kel-Tec PF9?
The Kel-Tec PF9 is 149 mm (5.87 in) long overall, with a 79 mm (3.11 in) barrel.
Who makes the Kel-Tec PF9?
The Kel-Tec PF9 is made by Kel-Tec CNC Industries (United States). It was designed by George Kellgren.
When was the Kel-Tec PF9 introduced?
The Kel-Tec PF9 was introduced in 2006 and discontinued in 2022.
How does the Kel-Tec PF9 operate?
The Kel-Tec PF9 uses a short recoil action, and its firing mechanism is double action only.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/kel-tec-pf9' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "kel-tec-pf9", "name": "Kel-Tec PF9", "manufacturer": { "id": "kel-tec", "name": "Kel-Tec CNC Industries", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1991, "website": "https://www.keltecweapons.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "510f94db90ac830742510a5176f9b1dc25a2e3bbf433e5f56f499b8b623d8511" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2006, "barrel_length_mm": 79, "weight_empty_g": 360, "action_type": "short_recoil"}