[Kestrel]

I have been toying with the idea of an MK9 for some time. Every time I went to the gun shop and handled one, I just couldn't like it. For the size, I wanted it to fit in my pocket, but it's just a little too heavy and large.

Then, on a lark, I picked up the K9. Wow. It fit like a glove, although it's a half-inch taller and longer. It just felt a lot better. It obviously wouldn't fit in a pocket, but it seemed like it would make a super IWB pistol.

Can anyone with one of these (or use to have one) give me some comments on them? What is the difference with the Elite model?

I'm thinking about getting it.

Thanks,
Steve

[Wanderer]

My parents have a K40 around. Overall it's a good gun, and is accurate. It's about the slimmest thing you can get nowadays. Ayoob likes his, but so does everyone who has one.

[mattk]

MK9 is does not thrill me either but I love my K9

[PCRCCW]

Are you sure? I carried my K40 in my front pocket for a long time. Its flatter than a snub, but the grip is longer...if you have the right pants pocket and holster it works like a charm.

You wont find a CCW gun that is better for its intended role than a Kahr.

Just one mans biased opinion....Shoot well

[agony]

I've been in love with my Kahr K9 elite98 since I first acquired it back in early 1999. It has been my constant companion since. One of my most accurate 9mm, it outshoots my SIG P225/Beretta92fs/and even my latest CZ85. It is as accurate as the SIG P226/P228/CZ75/HiPower that I shoot regularly.

It is one of the few guns that has never ever ever hiccuped on me to date. This is after nearly 4000 rounds.

I love this pistol, and can safely trust my life to it.

I use Remington Golden Saber 115gr+p and Gold Dots.

The elite trigger shortens the pull a wee bit, making it seem a tad lighter. The difference is subtle but noticeable.

[NJ3]

I have a K40 Elite that I carry in a Comp-Tac Pro Undercover. It seems no more difficult to conceal than my PM9.

[emc]

I have the K9, and am very happy with it. The only downside is that holsters are not easy to find. Otherwise, highly recommended.

FWIW,

emc

[Snowdog]

I've been extremely pleased with my K9 ever since I purchased it to take the carry role from the G19. Far slimmer, and just as accurate as the G19 (seemingly more so even), I can't possibly be happier with the K9.

Power/size ratio is something the K9 excels at, especially considering it is a firearm designed for +P ammunition.

For an all-metal 9mm pistol no bigger than a Makarov, the K9 quickly spawned a cult following from those who have recognized its attributes, and respect from all others.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/p45e08f5877d0ec9adc38cd954c514ffc/fcfb637b.jpg

[agony]

Hey Snowdog,
How old is your K9? Did they beef up the trigger guard on it? In your pic, it looks as though they did. Maybe it's a photo illusion. My trigger guard is super thin, and quite sharp at the edges:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid39/p7862cfc59c34004c34522968f1554682/fd09d90c.jpg

[Snowdog]

Great photography, Agony.

Actually, mine's one of the first ones out the shop doors. I bought it new in '97 I think, perhaps earlier. This was way back when they offered an excellent electroless nickel finish (before they offered stainless).

As for the trigger guard, I never noticed, but I suppose it could be thicker.
The major structural difference between mine and more recent ones is that mine lacks the fortified frame. You'll notice that my frame is absolutely flat with no extra metal to beef it up (the metal-depth change above the trigger). I don't know if this means my K9 isn't as strong as the newer ones, but I was assured by Karh that mine was indeed intended for everything up to and including +P ammunition.
Their explanation of the fortified frames was "just to make a great thing even better", so it's all kosher with me.

This little pistol has seen plenty of +P and +P+ (G-A Sheer power plus) along with tons of ball... still just as tight as the day I purchased it. :)

[mr. e]

Fortified frame??

I recently bought a new K9 after having sold an older model and noticed the difference in the frame. I thought it was milled down, possibly to reduce the weight, not beefed up. I wasn't aware that the older models were having any frame problems.

[agony]

Thanks for the compliment, Snowdog!

The K9 elite in the pic was one of the first elite98s off the factory line.....I've owned it since 1998. I had an older Kahr E9 that had the same exact trigger guard as my elite98. The budget Kahr seemed 'flatter' like your pic, without the polished metalwork seen in the elite. It was a decent pistol, but had different sights, and it would rust occasionally after prolonged CCW.

[SelfProclaimedExpert]

The Kahr is a good, solid gun. All steel is very cool in the land of polymer everything.

They are not pocket guns, unless that pocket comes with a holster. That trigger is too light to leave out in the open. Otherwise, great design.

[9x19]

...the K9 quickly spawned a cult following...

Dang!

All these cults I belong to... hope they never get together to find out I've been splitting my time between them.

I have owned a few K9s, and I like them alot. Good guns... IMO.

[newman32]

1997 K9 that is my favorite gun. Well built, fits well, and is very reliable. The only issue I ever had/have is when doing a fast reload. The magazines dont really keep the top round still, which allows the top round to wiggle a bit when in your pocket or a holder. So, I often find that I jam it up when doing fast mag changes because the top round is at a wrong angle and won't feed properly. I'm sure it is operator error, but maybe others have noticed that about the Kahr magazines too?

[No4Mk1*]

Kahr Magazines are poorly designed. I have had them spontaneously unload while being carried in a mountain bike pouch. It was interesting to find an empty spare mag and 7 loose rounds when finished riding. When carried in the pocket or other container, they frequently partially unload or at least the top round comes out of position as described by newman32. To test this, just fully load a magazine and put the top round under a little stress. It will move out of position.

[harrydog]

A couple years ago I was undecided between the MK9 and the K9. I wanted to get the MK9 because it is slightly smaller and I figured it would be a little easier to conceal.
But like you, it just didn't feel very comfortable in my hand. I just don't like a gun that I can only wrap 2 fingers around.
On the other hand, the K9 seemed perfect to me. It seems to be the best compromise in terms of size vs shootability. The original really is the best in my opinion.
My K9 has had no malfunctions of any kind. I've shot 300 rounds in an hour, including +P Corbons and there was no discomfort at all. It really tames recoil well.
As to a holster, I bought an Alessi WSDT and couldn't be happier. This IWB holster is very stable, very comfortable, and very concealable. The quality is second to none. I would highly recommend it. The only downside is that it took two or three months to get. Alessi products are in high demand and their production is not all that high (hand made). The wait was well worth it though.
The K9 in the WSDT is a GREAT combination.

[Mike Irwin]

Another vote for the K9.

Some of the early ones had tight chambers that made it hard to use reloads. I bought some reloaded 9mm some time ago and found out that mine has a tight chamber.

Kahr will apparently correct this, but since I no longer reload for 9mm, and since the gun has been 100% reliable with factory fresh ammo, I'm not going to worry about it.

If I were to stop carrying a revolver regularly, I'd carry my Kahr.

[tx45]

I love my K9. The only problem is the weight for concealed carry. Other than that....sweeeeettt!!!!!!!!!

[David Roberson]

Count me as another happy owner of a K9. I think the MKs are just too little. The full-size version is perfect. When it's not convenient to carry a full-size gun, the K9 is my top choice.

[harrydog]

Quote:
"I love my K9. The only problem is the weight for concealed carry."


I agree that for pocket carry the steel Kahrs are probably too heavy, but with a quality gun belt and IWB holster, the weight is nothing.