Kel-Tec prices: Are these normal or am I right to suspect something?

T

TruthTellers

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I haven't really looked at Kel-Tec pistols for a while, at least not since the Dark Times around 2014 and 2015, but $150 for a P32 and $170 for a PF9 have me wondering if Kel-Tec is possibly coming out with updated pistols soon and are almost giving their pistols away to online stores.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/kel-tec-p32-32-acp-pistol-black-p32bblk.html

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...1522857&utm_source=Apps+47,+Inc&utm_medium=CJ

Anyone here have any inside knowledge if Kel-Tec is coming out with successors to their current pistols or are these in fact relatively normal prices?
 
I think they are just struggling to keep up. There are so many affordable small pistols on the market now with much better fit and finish. They haven't evolved at all as far as their compact pistols are concerned. Not hating on them at all. I had a sub-2000 that was fantastic.
 
That's just the thing: I'm wondering if Kel-Tec is seeing the writing on the wall and saying "We have to update these 10 to 20 year old designs" and they're trying to dump what they have in parts inventory.

I wouldn't be surprised if come SHOT next year Kel-Tec unveils updated pistols. They've focused so much on the KSG, bullpup rifles they've not done much with their pistols to improve them and they are pistols that really need to be upgraded when 2019 is right around the corner.

Same here on the Sub 2000, wish the trigger was better tho on my Gen 1 S2K.
 
Why would Keltec need to "upgrade" guns that work, and that are being copied? Ruger is trying to corner the pocket pistol market by cutting prices. These Keltec designs paid for themselves a long time ago and after materials and overhead, they cost nothing to produce. I'm sure K/T is just playing the pricing game.
 
Two things. They are facing massive pressure from Ruger and Taurus. Secondly, they are old pistols, so the tooling is well amortized by now and it doesn't cost much to make them. I'm mostly with Bill on this one.
 
Except the LCP cost less than a P3AT right now...

Having owned 6 LCPs and 5 P3ATs, the LCP is better. (finish, fit, feel, service, options).
 
I haven't transferred a KelTec .380 in two years, but literally hundreds of LCP's in the same time frame.
When Ruger dropped the wholesale cost of the LCP a few years ago it destroyed the sales of the P3at's.

CMR's & Sub2000's I see about three times a month, RDB about once a month. PMR's about six a year.

KelTec excels at creating interesting designs, but struggles to produce them.
I think they need to follow John Brownings philosophy of licensing their designs for other manufacturers to produce.
 
"Better" is a subjective term.
Ruger took the Keltec design, made it heavier, larger, and put "Ruger" on the side. They did a slicker job on the polymer frame. Marketing genius.
People equate heavier with quality.
When a gun is designed to be the lightest .380 on the market, making it heavier is not necessarily an improvement, nor is making it larger.
Regardless- the public fell for it.
 
dogtown tom said:
I haven't transferred a KelTec .380 in two years, but literally hundreds of LCP's in the same time frame.
When Ruger dropped the wholesale cost of the LCP a few years ago it destroyed the sales of the P3at's.

CMR's & Sub2000's I see about three times a month, RDB about once a month. PMR's about six a year.
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How about P-32's and PF9's?
 
Carried the same P32 for 15+ years. Couple of early teething issues, but has been fine the past couple thousand rounds. I sell the LCPs, but I still prefer and recommend the KT. Probably sold 2 or 3 in the past year.
 
In ten years, over 20,000 guns transferred.....ONE KelTec P-32 :D
Probably ten PF9's but its been several years since the last one.
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I will have to guess that you are going by memory when you say that you had one P-32 and that you aren't referring to a spreadsheet that you keep which is easily searchable and can be sorted by gun manufacturer or model.

I say that because if you actually do have that and can sort by MFR or model, that database would be WILDLY interesting to me! For example, I think it would be a hoot to see how many S&W Performance Center (metal) semiautomatic pistols you've transferred.

Not that we could come to many firm conclusions...:p beyond what the Plano, Texas area has had a taste for, but like I said, I still find this stuff interesting.

Smith & Wesson Model 845's, PPC-9's and 952's: how many?
 
Sevens
Quote:
In ten years, over 20,000 guns transferred.....ONE KelTec P-32
Probably ten PF9's but its been several years since the last one.
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I will have to guess that you are going by memory when you say that you had one P-32 and that you aren't referring to a spreadsheet that you keep which is easily searchable and can be sorted by gun manufacturer or model.
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You would be correct, it's by memory. But if it would make you happy I could pull out my bound books and have a look.:rolleyes:

I say that because if you actually do have that and can sort by MFR or model, that database would be WILDLY interesting to me! For example, I think it would be a hoot to see how many S&W Performance Center (metal) semiautomatic pistols you've transferred.
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Heck if I (or any other dealer) would know...…..firearms are entered by manufacturer, model, serial#, caliber. A S&W Model 686 or 642 is a Model 686 or 642 regardless if it went through the Performance Center or not. That doesn't change its model name. Same with "TALO special editions".....just entered as the model name, not as TALO Wiley Clapp, etc.


Not that we could come to many firm conclusions... beyond what the Plano, Texas area has had a taste for, but like I said, I still find this stuff interesting.
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Sales of particular models vary according to customer demographics. I'm in a pretty affluent suburb of Dallas......don't transfer many Hi Points or Sccy handguns either. But I know of shops in other parts of Dallas that sell 2-3 per day.

Wanna know a good predictor of what I'll transfer next week? Just look at what Palmetto State Armory or Classic has on sale. Or what's on gun.deals



Smith & Wesson Model 845's, PPC-9's and 952's: how many?
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None in the last year that I can recall. Way more interest in Colt's. I transfer 6-8 Pythons, Boas, Anacondas, Diamondbacks every month.
 
The specific models I mentioned weren't base models -- a "non-PC version" ceases to exist.

They are extremely limited guns that aren't seen often, it's one of the reasons they have my interest. There are more than half a million Pythons.
 
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