Turd Polishing - NYPD K9 *Now With Range Report*

[.454]

I've been drooling over a CM9 for a while, but when I got the email from CDNN with the K9 trade-ins, I couldn't resist getting a steel frame Kahr for less than a new CM9. Well, the one I ended up with is kind of rough. Don't get me wrong, I expected some wear on it, but the salesman said they were all in "very good" shape or better. Mine has a chunk taken out of the right grip, plating on the trigger and striker components flaking off, and some other discoloration in spots on the frame. One nice part is the barrel. It shines like a mirror with no pitting in the barrel or chamber that I can see. Overall I'm happy I bought it, just wish I was luckier in the draw. If anyone has ideas of how to clean up the dark spots on the frame, please let me know. I don't want to ruin the matte finish by polishing too aggressively. Here are some pics from tearing it down before cleaning it up.


Discoloration on the frame and trigger with plating flaked off.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0753.jpg

More discoloration on backstrap.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0756.jpg

The internals were coated with some kind of grit and had to be flushed out with some Action Blaster spray. I didn't disassemble the frame components, just made sure it was all out.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0759.jpg

Grime under the left grip.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0760.jpg

Not as bad under the right.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0761.jpg

This had me kind of worried. There was some fuzzy stuff in the barrel but with one dry patch it was gone and shined up nicely with no pitting (I soaked it down with Hoppes #9 anyway).

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0763.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0766.jpg

continued . . .

[.454]

I detail stripped the slide (thanks to the sticky on this site) and I'm glad I did. The striker channel & striker were all gummed up as were the extractor channel and components.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0767.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0768.jpg

Here is the striker and striker block. The plating on these is flaking off as well and I'm not sure if I should be concerned about it or not.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0770.jpg

Everything turned out pretty well and the gun isn't such a turd anymore. I can't wait to get it to the range to see how it performs. I'll probably put in an order with Wolff's to ge a new recoil and striker spring too.

Like I said, I'm glad I picked up this little pistol. It also gave me a reason to join this site after lurking on it for so long.

[yqtszhj]

It sounds like you got a good price so don't let the nicks and dings bother you. Shoot it and enjoy your deal.

From your pics it looks like this one just spent a little too much time at the Donut Shop. :)

[.454]

Heh, yeah and handled with sticky donut hands!

[Bawanna]

She was a little rough but your well on your way to being a gem. Typical cop off duty or backup gun. Carried a lot, shot very little, and never loved or taken care of.

I'd not be too concerned about the plating coming off but you might have to stay on top of it slightly more often with cleaning and lubing.

I bet she's a shooter though, let us know how she fares after a range trip.

[dkmatthews]

I got my NYPD trade in K9 from AIM Surplus. Mine had discoloration on the frame, too. I hit it with the dremel, but was too aggressive and the finish came off. When that happened, I just kept going and removed the finish on the entire frame. It still shoots lights out!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

[Markis82]

If these frames are really bothering anyone, you can have them refinished. CCR (http://www.ccrrefinishing.com/index.html) does a great job and their finishes come with a lifetime warrantee. Their Ceramic-Plate II is second to no other finish process. But they have other options too. Worth a check out if you really want that trade-up to look brand new.

[jocko]

worst looking K9 I have ever seen.

[FLBri]

Are the stainless frames really plated? I have always assumed that the bead blast finish (or polished in the case of an Elite series) was just on the solid stainless. ??

[.454]

If these frames are really bothering anyone, you can have them refinished. CCR (http://www.ccrrefinishing.com/index.html) does a great job and their finishes come with a lifetime warrantee. Their Ceramic-Plate II is second to no other finish process. But they have other options too. Worth a check out if you really want that trade-up to look brand new.

What kind of finish is on the frame? Since it is stainless, I just assumed it was bead blasted but nothing coating it.

[CJB]

I' ll add again... GunKote 2300 series... Been on my silver, now black, PM45.... Pocket carry is rough, and no wear. Does have a ding from shells whackin the ejection port.

[Markis82]

I got my NYPD trade in K9 from AIM Surplus. Mine had discoloration on the frame, too. I hit it with the dremel, but was too aggressive and the finish came off. When that happened, I just kept going and removed the finish on the entire frame. It still shoots lights out!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2


What kind of finish is on the frame? Since it is stainless, I just assumed it was bead blasted but nothing coating it.I am not sure. But maybe DK (quoted above) can tell us what he found. You can have it bead blasted for around $90.00 at CCR, maybe other places as well.

[dkmatthews]

I am not sure. But maybe DK (quoted above) can tell us what he found. You can have it bead blasted for around $90.00 at CCR, maybe other places as well.

The frame looks like stainless steel under the satin finish. Compare the frame to the slide.


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[jocko]

I think they are kinda bead blasted so there for efven though it is not a finish "per say", if u try to dremel polish to remopve any foreign sh!t on the frame, it is gonna be a different ending finsih as the bead finish. The slides on the K9 NYPD are stainless as well as the frame..If u want todress um up, I like others here would recommend a professional refinish job..It is not that expensive and can sure make a turd like a NICETURD. Just sayin

[ReFracture]

Hope you can get that cleaned up decently, those K9s are nice.

[ScottSouth66]

After doing a polish job on my K40 I've come to the conclusion that the frame and slide ONLY are actually a low chromium content stainless,for corrosion resistance and strength,kinda like a good knife blade,too much chromium helps in rust resistance but diminishes the materials toughness.
The small parts and the barrel appear to be nickle plated carbon steel,judging by the softer nickle color and the fact that if you polish any of those parts too much you will burn through to base metal.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg684/scaled.php?server=684&filename=001pqin.jpg&res=landing

[TucsonMTB]

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg684/scaled.php?server=684&filename=001pqin.jpg&res=landing
D@mn! That's nice!

Your barrel metal maybe stainless under the nickle plating. I believe the barrels in my PM40's are. I removed a fair amount of material with a rubber abrasive wheel from the end of the ramps that were creaming the magazine followers. Once re-polished, the metal under the plating matches the adjacent polished plated areas and the ramp itself is soft enough to gouge slightly, so I'm betting the barrel is stainless. But, hey, so long as it doesn't rust . . . who cares?! ;)

Anyway . . . thanks for sharing the polished pistol porn!

[.454]

Scott, that polished slide looks sharp.

I called Kahr today and they verified he frame is just bead blasted with no other finish on it. So, I took some Flitz and cleaned up the dark spots on the frame. It didn't get rid of them but did lighten them up to the point I can live with it. I was careful not to polish too hard so the matte look is still intact.
Some before/after pics:

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0784.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0787.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0785.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0793.jpg

Before picture of the frame is in my earlier post. Here is after (i still have to figure out what to do with the trigger).
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0798.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/lawrenceww/IMAG0799.jpg

I think it cleaned up nicely and I'm happy with the way it looks now, but that trigger still bothers me. Any ideas of what I can do?

[Jaguar]

You can pick up a new trigger from Kahr for $15.40.

http://www.kahr.com/Pistol-Parts/Kahr-009K9S-Trigger.asp

I don't know how hard it would be to install, but I'd bet a good gunsmith could do it at a fairly low cost.

[ScottSouth66]

The biggest hitch in trigger replacement I hear is getting that pounded in pin out . So order a spare pin as well,and heck,might as well get the new return spring for a couple bucks too,since you're going that far.
I'd bet there would be no fitting probs due to the high accuracy of CNC replication. You can also kill that rust at the molecular level and give that frosted/blasted look back by swabbing the surface with some Naval Jelly,or Phosphoric acid from the hardware dept. Just test a small unseen area first,and be sure to neutralize with soap/water afterwards.
Here's the other side btw....
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg705/scaled.php?server=705&filename=003eotu.jpg&res=landing

[jlottmc]

That K40 is making my britches stick out in front.

[jocko]

there is a cure for that anbd just sometimes one has to takemattersin his own hands. Just sayin.

[espresso]

I think it looks a LOT better all cleaned up.
If it were my gun I'd just shoot it.......yeah like I stole it.

[jocko]

D@mn! That's nice!

Your barrel metal maybe stainless under the nickle plating. I believe the barrels in my PM40's are. I removed a fair amount of material with a rubber abrasive wheel from the end of the ramps that were creaming the magazine followers. Once re-polished, the metal under the plating matches the adjacent polished plated areas and the ramp itself is soft enough to gouge slightly, so I'm betting the barrel is stainless. But, hey, so long as it doesn't rust . . . who cares?! ;)

Anyway . . . thanks for sharing the polished pistol porn!

Kahr Barrel

The Kahr barrel begins its transformation from a solid round billet of high tensile strength proprietary steel, 3 inches in diameter and 30 inches long. In the temperature-controlled environment of the Lothar Walther factory, the barrel stock is gun drilled and rifled to match grade tolerances.

At the Kahr factory, the barrel stock is precisely cut to length and CNC machined. Nearly 75% of the solid steel billet is machined away to produce a single Kahr barrel. This intensive production method, providing the greatest material integrity and tightest tolerances, was chosen to assure the best quality barrel possible


I think kahr barrels are stainless and then nickel plated. Just sayin

[TucsonMTB]

I think it cleaned up nicely and I'm happy with the way it looks now, but that trigger still bothers me. Any ideas of what I can do?
If you want to avoid the hassle of replacing the trigger, you should be able to polish the face of the trigger with it in place, starting with 600 grit wet-or-dry production paper and moving to higher numbers until it pleases you.

If you are really careful, you can even use a felt wheel on a Dremel tool with polishing compound, but doing it my hand will give you the best control. I suspect the trigger is stainless, so it should look really nice once you are finished. Even plain carbon steel should look very nice, once it is polished.

We will be looking forward to more pictures, of course. ;)

[jocko]

if it is just polsihing, then indeed some 600+ grit paper cut to fit inside that trgger area will shine that trigger like a diamond in a goats ass. Just sayin

[yqtszhj]

The biggest hitch in trigger replacement I hear is getting that pounded in pin out . So order a spare pin as well,and heck,might as well get the new return spring for a couple bucks too,since you're going that far.
I'd bet there would be no fitting probs due to the high accuracy of CNC replication. You can also kill that rust at the molecular level and give that frosted/blasted look back by swabbing the surface with some Naval Jelly,or Phosphoric acid from the hardware dept. Just test a small unseen area first,and be sure to neutralize with soap/water afterwards.


That slide looks nice.

That trigger replacement: Getting the pin out with a punch is the easy work. Getting it back in while keeping everything in place and hammering the pin back in at the same time is more of a challenge. You have to be a bit of a contortionist, be very patient, and be ready for trial and error as well, and think out of the box. Been there and did that. Not for the faint of heart but it is possible. Think 3 times before jumping into it. You've now had your friendly warning. :israel::001_huh:

[yqtszhj]

like a diamond in a goats ass. Just sayin

Now how would you know..... never mind don't answer that. :blushing:

[Tinman507]

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/9cc138f8dc04cbf16240daa92d8d50e2/1935_p26968.gif

[yqtszhj]

So how did I know Tinman had one of these in his file......

[jocko]

not to much that he hasnot got in his file. u should see the one he sent to me aboutt he gal hugging the cop and HIS gun going off. Naw,I won't go their either..

[Tinman507]

Naaaahhhhhh Jocko Lies

[Carolinakid]

I got one from CDNN in excellent condition. Guess my NYC cop took good care of this one. The rubber grips were worn and will be replaced.

[chipD]

Cleaned up nice 454, you are going to enjoy shooting that K9.

[.454]

I finally got to the range last weekend with the K9. As eveyone was saying, it is a shooter. I didn't know exactly know what to expect with the long trigger, but it wasn't bad. It is nice and smooth but I need to get out again to get more comfortable with it. It had no issues with any of the ammo at all. It ate up all the 115 grain Tula, Federal Champion, & S&B, and some 124 & 147 grain Federal HST I fed it. My first two shots were dead center in the bullseye. Then I started pulling them a bit down and left, but I was able to keep all shots in a nice 4" group at 30 feet when slow firing.

Overall I really like this pistol. It's even comfortable to shoot, unlike the PF9 I brought with me the same day. With some more practice I think I can shrink the groups even more and plan on putting it to use for ccw.

[LorenzoB]

Nice work! That is a project gun I would like find some day.

It is more rewarding in a way when you get a deal, kind of a "diamond in the rough" then get to fix it up nice yourself.

[kahrsport]

i think i have a carbon steel k9,
which is better the stainless steel k9 or the carbon steel k9?
wonder

[.454]

Lorenzo, it is rewarding to see the gun go from filthy to back in action with a little TLC.

Kahrsport, this is my first Kahr so I can't tell you much about the carbon vs. stainless steel versions. I'm sure some of the other experts on the site can help you out though.

[JFootin]

Lorenzo, it is rewarding to see the gun go from filthy to back in action with a little TLC.

Kahrsport, this is my first Kahr so I can't tell you much about the carbon vs. stainless steel versions. I'm sure some of the other experts on the site can help you out though.

Yours looks like a stainless steel one.

[kahrsport]

you did a great job on the k9... good job

ok, mine is ss as another member showed me the difference

here is pic, just learned to post pic, lol

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j371/rimfiresport/5.jpg


Lorenzo, it is rewarding to see the gun go from filthy to back in action with a little TLC.

Kahrsport, this is my first Kahr so I can't tell you much about the carbon vs. stainless steel versions. I'm sure some of the other experts on the site can help you out though.

[jocko]

I would think if ur kahr was stainless steel it wold be makred on the slide or frame as such. Just sayin

I might be 100% wrong here but I thought the non scalloped lower framed kahrs were of carbon steel. There is certainly nothing wrogn with the carbon steel kahrs, other then more TLC is neededto keep it loooking good..

[kahrsport]

yup, no ss written on it so it is carbon, but i still like it more than my cw9, can't wait to shoot