TP-9 has a small grip

[Antriess]

Hey guys, I just bought my first pistol but unfortunately I can't take it home quite yet.

The gun is used but looks like it was never shot. I'm looking at pictures on the Kahr website and the TP9 on there has a much longer grip than mine. So I did some google searching and found the blog post below. My question is, is this info accurate? How old could my gun be? Is it rare? To me it seems more desirable as a concealed cary weapon since it has the shorter grip. I like it and can't wait to bring it home :).

http://unreadbits.blogspot.com/2006/03/kahr-tp9-review.html


So mine looks like this (without the Novak sights)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVnEh-4bDhQ/TgNPjToyMvI/AAAAAAAAADI/OL7qLk62m5w/s400/TP9-NOVAK.png

Mine does not have a grip this long
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cMpzVpU8MUU/TgNZoVQaRGI/AAAAAAAAADY/x8gPDuqLbj0/s400/TP9-NOVAK-new.jpg

[JFootin]

That's a TP9 slide and barrel on a P9 frame. Look at how much of it is sticking out beyond the frame up front.

[Antriess]

That's a TP9 slide and barrel on a P9 frame. Look at how much of it is sticking out beyond the frame up front.

Interesting. Was that done at the factory?

Look at this archive post from this forum.
http://kahrtalk.com/archive/index.php/t-74.html

And I think that I read somewhere that the TP9 slide will not work on a P9 frame. Any ideas on that?

[JFootin]

Interesting. Was that done at the factory?

Look at this archive post from this forum.
http://kahrtalk.com/archive/index.php/t-74.html

And I think that I read somewhere that the TP9 slide will not work on a P9 frame. Any ideas on that?

Sounds like the early TP9s had the shorter grip. But if you look at the TP9 on the Kahr website, the frame is matched to the slide, not way short like a P9 frame would. I still stand by my original conclusion.

[CJB]

The TP slide on a P frame is what I asked a while ago... no real answer on it.
I'd love to do that with a TP45 slide on a P/CW45 frame!

I seem to recall... P frame with TP size slide mentioned here before, also seeing someones TP frame with TP slide, but with shorter "P" size hood on the TP frame. Any ideas?

[chrish]

the tp9 was originally released with the shorter frame (both grip and under the barrel)...

this was years back. some googling should get you more details and maybe some of the early reviews of the tp. not sure if its an actual p9 frame or if it was slightly different. they have since gone to the full grip with two 8 rnd mags with the little foot. the orig tp came with 1 7 rnd mag and 1 8 rnd extended mag with the chunkier base plate.

[ripley16]

Hylton nailed it. Your new Kahr is an early TP9 model, and they came from the factory that way. It appears to be a P frame, but I've never tried to fit my P frame to my TP slide to see if they fit together. If I have time I'll do it today and report back. I have a newer TP9 and I can say it is a fine gun, my favorite Kahr. It shoots like a T9. Enjoy your "new" Kahr.

[Antriess]

the tp9 was originally released with the shorter frame (both grip and under the barrel)...

this was years back. some googling should get you more details and maybe some of the early reviews of the tp. not sure if its an actual p9 frame or if it was slightly different. they have since gone to the full grip with two 8 rnd mags with the little foot. the orig tp came with 1 7 rnd mag and 1 8 rnd extended mag with the chunkier base plate.

Thank you very much for the info!

[Antriess]

According to this serial number history thread (http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=207) and the receipt for my Kahr with the serial number, I have YD13xx - TP9 - Apr 2007.

[chrish]

yep, that would sound about right for the timeframe. i love my p9, but that particular version of the tp has to be a great combo of tack driver with a more concealable grip. i am looking at getting a newer tp to get the longer barrel and since i have the p9 i am thinking i will like the longer grip for a range gun. but the walther ppq has me at a point of indecision right now. but i digress. i am sure you will love shooting that and the accuracy should be spectacular.

[CJB]

I for one would enjoy hearing if they do indeed fit together Hylton

[chrish]

that was ripley that had both and said he would try when he had tim. i dont have the tp (yet) my shtf alter ego is still telling me to buy a walther ppq and put the tp9 purchase on a back burner. my revolver alter ego is telling me to get the tp9 because i know i will love it...dont ask about my other egos, there are too many.

[ripley16]

I just tried to put the TP slide on the P frame. It would not slide on all the way. Some part of the slide bumped into some part of the frame and I didn't want to force it. One thing I noticed is that the front guides, in the dust cover, were just barely long enough to reach the front rail slots on the slide. I have a very early P and a very new TP, so perhaps there's some incompatability there... I don't know, but after studying the two parts, it does seem as though the older TP has a long slide on a P frame. I see no difference. If I weren't too chicken I'd force the issue but I don't want to make a hybrid that I couldn't take apart.

[Antriess]

that was ripley that had both and said he would try when he had tim. i dont have the tp (yet) my shtf alter ego is still telling me to buy a walther ppq and put the tp9 purchase on a back burner. my revolver alter ego is telling me to get the tp9 because i know i will love it...dont ask about my other egos, there are too many.
Have you held the ppq yet? When I was trying out guns the other day the guy at the shop gave me a ppq to hold and I really didn't like where they put the mag release. With my grip I couldn't reach it with my thumb and that just bothers me. YMMV of course.


I just tried to put the TP slide on the P frame. It would not slide on all the way. Some part of the slide bumped into some part of the frame and I didn't want to force it. One thing I noticed is that the front guides, in the dust cover, were just barely long enough to reach the front rail slots on the slide. I have a very early P and a very new TP, so perhaps there's some incompatability there... I don't know, but after studying the two parts, it does seem as though the older TP has a long slide on a P frame. I see no difference. If I weren't too chicken I'd force the issue but I don't want to make a hybrid that I couldn't take apart.

Good to know - thanks for trying it out ripley.

[chrish]

yea, held a ppq at the local shop and also at a recent gunshow. i love the feel of the grip. i've got a p22 plinker and have grown use to the mag release. i actually have switched to using my trigger finger to drop the mag rather than my thumb to stay on target. but i would agree that for a lot of folks it would be tough to reach it with your thumb and not twist, coming off target...i could do it but it was uncomfortable. but i find i even have to twist off target with my kahr as well.

some of the advantages i've found with the walther mag release are that they work well with gloves on and they also release better than some button style that seem a bit 'sticky'.

[Antriess]

Should I be shopping for holsters made for the TP9 or the P9? This is my first pistol so I'm new to this.

Remember, the grip is the size of a p9 and the slide is TP9 length.

I think that most likely either would work as long as the bottom of the holster is open. I'm looking at the Crossbreed type holsters. Thanks in advance!

[chrish]

Yes, anything open will work. I have the longer grip TP. It fits in my Comptac Infidel (slide version of the holster, so it's open). Works great.

If you want a closed holster for the TP, choices in my experience are limited. I believe blade-tech makes one, somebody else but it escapes me.

I have a new Silent Thunder STX (owb) on order, should have it in the next couple weeks I guess. But I'm having it made long enough for the TP, closed, but the P will fit also. So custom options are available.

[Antriess]

I had a change of heart and switched my future pistol from the TP9 to a K9. (http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?p=148696#post148696)

Still love that TP9 with the short grip but the shop had a used K9 and it just felt right to me.

[wyntrout]

Here's a blog/post about the Tactical 9 and later changes:

http://unreadbits.blogspot.com/2006/03/kahr-tp9-review.html#update

Wynn

[gunshow]

I never noticed the difference from the one I bought (and boasted about) shown here http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?p=138709#post138709
and the one on the Kahr site.

So I too have one of these P9 framed TP9's.
I just grabbed the box and sure enough the spent shell case package is dated 8/13/2004.

So I bought a brand new gun that was 7.5 years old. Love it too :)