What Happened to Polymer80? A Dated Timeline
Last updated 24 October 2026.
The short answer
Polymer80 is no longer in business. Wikipedia lists the company as defunct on 25 July 2024 and gives the cause as bankruptcy from legal costs. It reports that the company ceased operations and began liquidating assets. Parts that carry the Polymer80 name may still be available from other sellers, so check each listing.
Timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Founded in Dayton, Nevada by Loran Kelley Jr. and David Borges. The first product was an injection-molded AR-15 lower receiver. (Wikipedia gives March 2013 in the text and May 2013 in the infobox.) |
| 2016 to 2019 | First Glock-compatible pistol frame in 2016, a follow-up in 2017, more frames, colors and grips in 2019. |
| 10 Dec 2020 | ATF agents searched the company's headquarters. |
| 2021 to 2023 | Several lawsuits from cities and victims' families, among them Los Angeles in February 2021, Baltimore in June 2022 and Philadelphia in July 2023. |
| 24 Aug 2022 | The ATF "frame or receiver" rule took effect, according to the ATF letter. Polymer80 changed how it sold its kits afterward. |
| 25 Jul 2024 | Listed as defunct after bankruptcy from legal costs. |
Why people still search for the name
Polymer80 frames and slides were among the most widely used build parts for Glock-pattern pistols. Owners still look for compatible parts, manuals and replacement pieces for the PF940 family. See our explainer on the PF940 model names if you are matching a part to a frame.
What this means when you buy
- Buy from a seller that lists the exact model and compatibility for each part.
- Rules for unfinished frames and kits changed in 2022 and are still being argued in court. Check the current federal rule and your state's law before you order.
- We are an independent retailer, not Polymer80 and not affiliated with the former company.
Sources
- Polymer80 on Wikipedia. Wikipedia says the article leans on primary sources, so treat single details as reported, not confirmed.
- ATF letter on the frame or receiver rule
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
