Kahr Problems

[fastbolt]

Boy, I would not think much of someone selling a pistol that was known not to function properly, especially when they were free to return it to Kahr to have it fixed.

If that was directed toward my friend, you can relax ... He's not the kind of guy to deliberately pass on a known problem to someone else without explaining everything to them beforehand. Sure, another person in his place might very well decide to have Kahr examine the pistol and make any repairs or corrections needed before selling it ...

I once owned a Charter Arms .44 Special Bulldog in which the cylinder and trigger would repeatedly lock up, both during actual shooting, and also in dry-fire conditions. Instead of getting rid of it, I asked the head armorer at work to look at it. He'd once done some nice work on another CA Bulldog for one of the guys, and I'd hoped he could correct whatever was wrong. Well, after repeated, fruitless attempts to get the revolver to function, he pronounced it a doorstop and washed his hands of it. Okay, admittedly, someone familiar with working on S&W and Colt service revolvers might understandably consider C/A revolvers to be a bit "less" refined when it came to fit, finish, manufacture, design, and so on & so forth ...

So, he recommended I return the gun to the factory and see if they could do any better, since they'd built the gun.

I think it was after the third time I got it back from the factory, with the then-familiar letter explaining the "problem" had been fixed ... and the cylinder immediately locked up tight as a drum while dry-firing it, standing right there at the counter of the gunstore that had handled the shipping for me, after I'd just removed it from the box from its last trip back to the factory ... that I traded the gun off to the gunstore. They had a gunsmith that appeared bored, so perhaps they could get the gun to function someday. They didn't seem to care one way or the other that the factory hadn't been able to correct whatever problem existed, but they knew about the condition when I traded it in ... and apparently they had a lot of confidence in their gunsmith. I have NO reason to think for a moment that they'd simply sell the gun as used and "As-Is" ...

My point is that I wouldn't willingly go through that experience with another Charter Arms revolver. IF I were silly enough to ever buy another one ... and it functioned in any manner similar to the previous couple of .44 Bulldogs I've owned ... I wouldn't even bother to have anyone try to fix it. I'd just trade it off ... AND I'd inform the prospective buyer and/or deadler (I'm in CA, you know) of my reasons for wanting rid of the gun. I intend to shortcut this potential situation and simply never buy another one ... but back to the subject at hand ...

Now, modern pistols can often require some minor repairs, parts replacement, "fitting" of some part or another, etc., etc., even when NIB. That's not uncommon, regardless of WHO makes the pistol. It happens. Sometimes minor problems occur which can be diagnosed and easily corrected. That's why manufacturers have repair technicians/gunsmiths, commercial gunsmiths become "authorized warranty repair stations" for various makes, and manufacturers offer "armorer" training & certification for L/E agencies & Security companies that use their weapons.

Of course, sometimes a particular example may simply require replacement after the manufacturer has determined that it can't reasonably be made to operate and function as intended. We've all read about that happening at one time or another, even among members of these types of forums. That's one of the nice things about dealing with reputable manufacturers, isn't it? If they can't make it right in one way, they make it right in another way. That's why customer service is as important as the original customer sale.

I agree that anecdotal stories are just that ... and sometimes they take on more the aspect of "bashing " and "rumor mongering", than being reasonably useful for anything. Too many folks are willing to "bad mouth" any particular manufacturer, make, model, design or caliber of firearm for reasons which may be "personal" ... and may, or may not, be based upon "reasonable" circumstances ... or, they may simply enjoy "bashing" someone else's favored purchase.

Not nice ... let alone helpful.

On the other hand, like many other folks that work as firearms instructors and armorers, I DO tend to watch and remember the things we encounter and actually see for ourselves. Sometimes this may run counter to "prevailing popular product-bashing & rumor-mongering", and sometimes it may follow simialr reported occurrences. In the last instance we generally start to look into it, and may contact the involved manufacturer(s) to inquire into what they know about it. This can often result in a very professional degree of interest, co-operation and assistance in resolving a potential problem or condition, and may likely result in an improvement in the involved product ... whether it involves the firearm's manufacturer or an otuside parts vendor/supllier. It doesn't have to mean a "recall" results, though. That's a call for the manufacturer to make.

As a couple of very experienced guys ... and L/E armorer and armorer/gunsmith ... once told me, almost 98% of most semiauto pistol malfunctions and "problems" can eventually be attributed to either the shooter (by action, or omission of some required action), or the ammunition ...

Glaring examples of this can be seen most any day of the week at some range or another. I see it all the time ...

The rest of the time? We fix the gun, or have it returned to the manufacturer if it's something that can't be corrected by an agency armorer.

And if it matters ... I have related my favorable observations and personal experiences with metal-framed Kahrs, particularly in .40 S&W, but these are admittedly few in number, and I encourage everyone who asks to research the guns for themselves ... rent them, if possible ... and make their own informed decision.

Handguns are tools of the trade in our circumstances ... either issued Safety Equipment or personally owned firearms being authorized as off duty and/or Secondary weapons. This is too important of an issue to allow any potential "personal prejudices" and "favorites" to become involved. I've provided a lot of effort in helping some folks become better skilled at using their chosen Kahr off duty weapons to the best of their abilities ... and I'll continue to do so. Just because I don't happen to personally like the long DAO operation of some pistols, it doesn't mean I can't help those that DO like them ... That's what it's all about, when all is said and done.

I'd like nothing better to read about someone sending their gun into the factory for diagnosis and repair of some unknown "problem", and have it returned in such condition that it's forever more BORINGLY reliable.

Stay well ... and remember that frequent, proper & safe PRACTICE can't really be over-emphasized ...
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