Check out my refinsihed K9

[Fudgie Ghost]

Just got my Kahr K9 back from Mac's Shootin Irons Restorations. He refinished it in satin nickel. Gun was over 8 years old, and, looking at the "before" photos I took, looks like either the bluing was wearing off, or someone had tried to "re-blue" it themselves (I got the gun used).

In any case, it looks like a brand new gun now:

 

[BHPshooter]

I've heard lots of good things about Mac's Shootin' Irons lately, and that pic makes me want to agree... That looks great.

Would you recommend them?

Wes

 

[71Commander]

Was it originally blackened stainless or blued steel?

 

[Fudgie Ghost]

Blackened stainless---? Never heard of that before.

In any case, maybe you can tell me--here are some "before" pics:

 

[71Commander]

It doesn't look like it.

Here's a link to lackened stainless.

http://www.kahr.com/review.html

Caliber 9mm (9 x 19)
Capacity 7 + 1
Operation Trigger cocking DAO; lock breech; "Browning - type" recoil lug; passive striker block; no magazine disconnect
Barrel 3.5", polygonal rifling; 1-10 right-hand twist
Length O/A 6.0"
Height 4.5"
Slide Width .90"
Weight Pistol 23.1 ounces, Magazine 1.9 ounces
Grip Wraparound, textured soft polymer
Sights Low profile, white bar-dot combat sights (tritium night sights optional)
Finish Matte blackened stainless steel with Tungsten DLC
Magazines 2-standard, 7-round

 

[Fudgie Ghost]

Fumegator: absolutely recommended. See my post in "Rate Retail Transactions" or whatever it's called.

 

[Fudgie Ghost]

How 'bout a few more photo's? I think these are little better than the earlier ones. . .

 

[Snowdog]

FG, that's definitely a "Swiss watch" early model like mine. As Justin Moon designed these pistols specifically around hot rounds such as Cor-bon's 115gr +P load, I'm not quite sure why the frame was later beefed up.

Early on before Kahr offered the K9 in stainless, they did offer a beautiful factory electroless nickel, much like what you've got now.

My K9 has been my carry pistol since '96 and I haven't given much thought to looking for a replacement; I can’t find any deficiencies in the K9.
I'm sure your K9 will serve you well. I'll also wager you're going to be quite tickled with your choice of electroless nickel.

If I need more than 8 rounds of 147gr Rangers, I need better timing.

 

[hnm201]

Please let us know how the finish holds up. The finish on the makarovs that I had done through Mac's didn't hold up well at all

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Kahr used to make the K9 in carbon steel. This became the E9 when stainless became the norm. From your "before" pics, I'm pretty sure yours is carbon steel. These had an unfortunate reputation of being rust buckets so when the stainless guns came out, the carbon steel gun sales plummeted. The E9 was an attempt at an economy gun, although all the ones I saw were priced no more than $100 cheaper than comparable stainless models.

 

[Fudgie Ghost]

Dominic: do you carry your Markarov in a Kydex or similar type holster? I know these are harder on gun finishes than leather. Also, did you ever contact Mac and discuss with him your unhappiness. He seems like the kind of guy who would stand by his work.

Unfortunatley, living in Westchester county (NY), I can't don't have a "full carry" permit, (plus I work in NYC, so forget that), so my experiences as to the wearing of the finish will not be so valid, as someone who carries it every day. I'm just happy I stopped what seemed to be the slow, steady onslaught of oxidation. I think my Ruger Sec. Six might be the next candidate for "Mac'ing". Just need to figure out what color. . .

 

[albanian]

That does look like a new K-9! The K-9 is my all time favorite pistol. I had an early E-9 but now I have two later SS K-9s and I don't see any decline in workmanship between any of them. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a brand new K-9 because I think if anything, they are made even better than the older ones.

I have been thinking about having my Star BM done in EN but it costs as much as I paid for the gun!

 

[Cortland]

Why would you pick nickel over hard chrome? Everything I hear is that nickel is not so durable or resistant to solvents.

 

[Fudgie Ghost]

Cortlandt: Mac doesn't offer "hard chrome". OD, black, gray, and "satin nickel" are his current finishes (at least as I can tell from his website). Is "hard chrome" that bright shiny finish? If it is, that's a little too "pimp" for me.

He did my 870 in the gray---looks very cool. Search my user name for post regarding it, there's a picture of it attached.

BTW, the refinishing cost me $110 I think (I got the 'basic'--externals only), which I think is very reasonable. But the FedEx overnight shipping, now mandatory, cost me another $70! Ouch!

 

[albanian]

"But the FedEx overnight shipping, now mandatory, cost me another $70! Ouch!"

I hope they at least bought you dinner before they F***KED you like that.

 

[Snowdog]

Electroless nickel is an excellent finish. Though it's certainly true it isn't as wear-resistant as hard chrome, it is more wear resistant than just about any other common finish, including blued.

Another advantage with electroless nickel is the protection it offers against corrosion. Electroless nickel protects from rust better than both blue and hard chrome.
However, I simply like the way it looks. It's got that subdued "skip the glamour get straight to business" thing going for it.

As for solvents, I've been using Break-free, CLP and Hoppes #9 for years on both my K9 (factory electroless nickel) and Kimber (Eabco "French Grey" electroless nickel), and as you can see below, with absolutely no yellowing or other ill effects.
Much of the solvent complaints I’ve personally heard come from those with the traditional-style nickel plating of yesteryear, not the excellent type of finish Ghost had done to his now-practically-new K9.

Bottom line? If I were in his place, I too would have chosen nickel for this potential carry pistol as anyone who’s carried at least as long as I have knows perspiration is far more of a menace to a carbon steel CCW firearm than holster wear).

Has seen many a bottle of BreakFree

 

[Curare]

FG--that's a great looking result.