Question about purchasing used Kahr.

[freewheeling]

Hi:

I'm currently bidding on a used P9 (described as being in excellent condition) and had a couple of questions. First, does the limited lifetime warranty "roll over" to subsequent owners of the gun, or does it apply only to the original user? Second, were there some quality control problems with the Kahr P series early on? If so, how serious, what were they, when were they corrected, etc.?

 

[eyz]

I owned a Kahr K40 once. Brand new, slide failed to go into battery every round. 1 trip to the range, 1 trip back to the gun shop for something a little more reliable. It also seems like a $500 handgun should have a recoil spring that lasts longer than 1-2K rounds. A 32 in hand is better than a Kahr in the shop.

 

[freewheeling]

Kahr recoil springs.

eyz:

It also seems like a $500 handgun should have a recoil spring that lasts longer than 1-2K rounds.

Does Wolff make springs for this weapon? And if the recoil springs are questionable, how do the mag springs hold up? I imagine one would almost have to leave under full tension load with such a small capacity.

 

[mete]

There have been changes in the Kahr as there are in many guns. You could always send it to Kahr and ask them to inspect and upgrade the pistol.

 

[FunYet]

<slide failed to go into battery every round>

I had the same situation with my PM9 and with an MK9. Replaced the recoil springs and life was good. Kahr recommends replacing them around every 1000 rounds.

I've had no trouble with my PM9 related to quality control issues. I've read there are problems with warping but I've never seen any indication of it with my gun. I have close to 3000 rounds through it.

 

[freewheeling]

Recoil springs

FunYet:

I had the same situation with my PM9 and with an MK9. Replaced the recoil springs and life was good. Kahr recommends replacing them around every 1000 rounds.

I've had no trouble with my PM9 related to quality control issues. I've read there are problems with warping but I've never seen any indication of it with my gun. I have close to 3000 rounds through it.

Apparently Wolff does make Kahr recoil springs. Here's the link. The springs are for the K series, but I imagine they're identical for the P series weapons. Since you now have 3,000 rounds through the gun I assume you've replaced the recoil spring at least twice? Wolff makes two "extra power" springs in 22 and 23 lbs., so it might not be a bad idea to start with the 22 lbs. Assuming it's not too strong, the heavier spring might last longer.

I still haven't heard from anyone about rollover of the limited lifetime warranty, though. Anyone know about that? (Just in case someone doesn't wait until the end to snipe me on this.)

 

[Texas Bob]

I would not purchase a "used" P9. I would purchase a "used" K9. Short of checking with the factory(running the serial#) you need to make sure you are not buyng a "first" or "second" generation frame. This is the problem(1st,2nd) frames caused all the bad press. I had a "second" gen. frame that started to seperate(crack) and Kahr replaced the frame with an upgrade. From the outside the only visable change is the "trigger pin" being "cross pinned" so it does not slide sideways. Inside the frame, early generations had a "void" to the right of the offset bbl where the trigger transfer bar resides. The "newer" generations have a noticible bulge of "frame material" the trigger transfer bar passes through. One possible reason for the problem and upgrades maybe off center torque caused by the offset bbl feed ramp. This is possibly negligable in steel frame guns, and only showed up in poly frames that saw wide distrbution and "use." This is just my view, not gospel, hope it helps

 

[freewheeling]

frame problems

Texas Bob:

I would not purchase a "used" P9. I would purchase a "used" K9. Short of checking with the factory(running the serial#) you need to make sure you are not buyng a "first" or "second" generation frame.

Thanks. If I happen to win the auction I'll pay special attention to examination of the frame. I assume that I can send it back for a frame replacement if it's one of the faulty ones though, right? (Or do I have to wait for it to actually fail?)

 

[Texas Bob]

I cannot answer what Kahr's policy on that might be. If its an early frame shoot the hell out of it to see if it fails. In good conscience I cannot recomend buying a used P9 without more input from the seller.

 

[freewheeling]

used Kahr

In good conscience I cannot recomend buying a used P9 without more input from the seller.

Heard from him. It's apparently less than a year old. He originally sold it new and then took it back in trade for another firearm, so he's now reselling it.

 

[Texas Bob]

It "should" be OK then. You Know what to look for now, good luck. ps I have a P9 and a PM9 I trust.

 

[PCRCCW]

Kahr and other makers of short slide travel guns....OIAW small powerful guns.......recommend you change the recoil spring every 1000 rnds. My K40 would eat recoil springs like they were its only food......so would my STI Ranger..............its the design of the guns.

Hell Wolff recommends it on less qty shot than 1000 depending on the gun.

Shoot well.