Kahr arms and the PM9.....huh!

[jonboynumba1]

I traded for a used in (I thought) excellent condition Kahr PM9 at the shop I work at recently...I always loved the way the PM9 felt...so I considered trading for it myself...seems to shoot well enough. However upon getting it home I broke it down and found the ejection side forward polymer frame rail was 80% missing having cracked off even with the frame top. So I called Kahr...the gun was 8 years old...they have a 5 year non-transferable warranty (that seems kinda sorry for a gun in that price class!) I was told it was nothing to worry about...the frame rails are largely cosmetic and for re-assembly and to make things "a little smoother tighter and quieter...but mostly to aid re-assembly" uhhh OK... now I can see it really rides on the two steel insert rails in the dust-cover area and the one tiny steel insert at the rear of the slide...but that just seems like the kinda thing that should be fixed or offered to fix...even if for a charge. To this I was told they had a tech burn/cut off the rails completely and the gun still ran...it was not as smooth or enjoyable to shoot but still ran fine....uhhhh OK. We'll pretend that makes me feel better that your crappy non-reinforced frame rails snap off. Didn't get a "premium feeling" from my customer service call or the firearm after noticing that. I think it will go back into the case...it will be the last Kahr product I trade for at the shop. Cute gun...shoots well...but I like guns that don't break....even if they do run broken. A $289 keltec would have been fixed no problem...but not a $600+ Kahr?? Weird.

Too bad I kinda liked the gun.

 

[rellascout]

Frame bulge on Kahrs is standard. Its also pretty common on other polymers. It is 100% cosmetic.

I understand you might not like the look but there is nothing wrong with the gun.

Part of the frame rail appears to be missing on my Kahr polymer pistol. Is this normal?

A. The top rails on the Kahr polymer pistol are designed to minimize stress. It may not appear to be symmetrical because of its design.
>>Back to top

http://www.kahr.com/faq.asp#q22

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm sorry you weren't happy with the level of service you were offered, but it sounded like the tech was just try to save you money which didn't have to be spent.

What they told you is that the part involved was not critical to function and was mostly cosmetic...which is true of most polymer frames guns, their slides usually just ride on the four tabs (makes for less stress on the frame and longer life)...and that the gun would function without the missing piece. You were able to confirm that when you shot it yourself before cleaning it.

I can understand that you might be upset with yourself for not checking the condition of the gun carefully before trading for it and that this might affect it's future sale...I'm assuming that you'll disclose the missing/broken piece to any potential purchaser...but that fact really wasn't Kahr's choice/decision/fault

I'm pretty sure that if you had offered to, they would have sold you a new frame.

 

[Ben86]

I traded for a used in (I thought) excellent condition Kahr PM9 at the shop I work at recently

Well, if you work there can't they cut you some slack and let you bring the gun back if you want? I know it must suck to have a gun that, although functional, is not in the condition you expected it to be in. It also sucks that not every company offers a lifetime warranty. I usually don't buy from those people. I'd buy a new frame, or try to trade it back in for another gun.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Well, if you work there can't they cut you some slack and let you bring the gun back if you want?

Unless I'm mistaken, he doesn't own the gun. I believe he was saying that he took the gun in as a trade while working at the shop and than took the gun out to shoot it...while it still belonged to the shop.

That's why he says, that he won't take anymore Kahrs in trade at the shop

 

[Mudinyeri]

Would Kahr sell you a new frame? If so, then you could "repair it for a charge" yourself.

 

[Ben86]

Unless I'm mistaken, he doesn't own the gun.

Light bulb time!

 

[Jbabbler]

As a used gun you have no idea what the gun was subjected to before you got it. There is no way to tell how that rail broke off. That being said, I agree that the plastic rail is for assembly only and not necessary. Just go shoot it and enjoy it. These are great, well built carry guns.

 

[abuelo]

Agreed, as a used gun you have no idea what that gun has been subjected to before you traded for it. Not necessarily the fault of the manufacturer. I guess " shoot it like a rented gun " and don't worry.

 

[Girodin]

We'll pretend that makes me feel better that your crappy non-reinforced frame rails snap off

Cute gun...shoots well...but I like guns that don't break

You can break almost anything and since you have no idea how it happened its a bit strong to call it crap. You as a professional ought to have done some due diligence before you purchased it. You bought a gun with out at least field stripping it and eyeballing things?

No offesne but it sounds like you are just angry someone wont clean up your mess when they are neither obligated too nor in their informed opinion does it even need to be done.

I think it will go back into the case...

Do you plan to disclose the issue to potential buyers?

it will be the last Kahr product I trade for at the shop.

You could just learn to look them over first. I'm sure those that would trade in a kahr will just do business elsewhere.

 

[JQP]

Purely cosmetic.

Few people know it, and I didn't until recently, but Kahrs have MORE steel in their rails (you just can't see it due to the design) than Glock receivers:

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=765313

 

[FruitCake]

Well I've been considering a Kahr P9 used because I LOVE the way it fits in my hands.
From this post I'm learning that when I do go to look at one I will dissamble it and look for anything broken.
Especially for the pricepoint.
I've been debating between the P9 and PF9. But to buy a used gun also has its setbacks.
This will be my first Kahr product and hopefully I have a good experience with them.