New Member in KY

[JethrosDad]

Hello All,

New Kahr owner from KY here, but now I have the bug. :p A friend recently gifted me a used MK9 (nice friend, I know). I polished the barrel, added the factory wood grips, and had to buy some magazines (he could only find 1). Still not a bad investment.

I like the MK9 so much, my LGS had the burnt bronze CW9 on sale for $284 today so I HAD to order one so I could get the free magazine.... It should be in next week sometime.

Function of the MK9 has been virtually flawless I put 400 rounds through it with 1 FTE with 115 grain FMJ Aguilla. The wood grip screws also needed a touch of blue Lok-tite cause they wiggled loose during 1st range visit. After I got home and broke it down for cleaning I noticed the guide rod is kinda flimsy and bends in the middle and the end is pretty peened up. Was wondering if this is normal??

I don't have privilege to post photos yet but I uploaded some pics to google photos and will post a link below to the photos. Any input on the guide rod would be great :) Am really looking forward to my new CW9 for EDC, and hoping to become a regular on the forums.https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1SyZB9_PDWiVmM0NDVzakZUdm9DVEx4dEtTWTlZV FM4Wk9z

https://goo.gl/photos/inRdo8kxrDSoisA89

Thanks,

[mark7mod0]

Welcome from Florida. Nice friend indeed!!! I would settle for a friend with a CM9 to gift.

[JethrosDad]

Yeah I was pretty stoked. I know a lot of people carry the MK but as someone who grew up shooting polymer guns I find it kind of heavy. It will probably stay in the safe and the incoming CW9 will go with me.

[davec]

Welcome from Tennessee ..

[Ed M]

Welcome to the forum, and the MK club.

Having owned my MK for a while now, I might be able to help a bit.

I too put the wood grips on mine, and used the recommended "longer" grip screws when I installed them. The screws are actually the ones used on the K9 series. Actually, you can use 1911 grip screws as well. Some are a bit long, and either have to be shortened or you can use o-rings under the screw heads. I chose the latter option, and it worked well. The tiny 0-rings can be found in the plumbing section of your local Home Depot. They sell an assortment that allow you to choose the best size that prevents the longer screws from protruding into the mag well, and also makes them look nicer by preventing them from seating too far down into the grip.

Those 0-rings also help keep the screws tight - sorta like a lock washer.

You basically have 3 choices for a recoil spring assembly. The stock one has a plastic inner rod and end cap. The outer end is plastic, so it can get marred pretty easily from use...

http://www.kahr.com/Pistol-Parts/Kahr-005M9S-Recoil-Spring-Assembly-005M9S.asp

Kahr sells a stainless guide rod that requires you to cut the stock unit inner plastic rod, and then re-use the springs and stainless outer spring sleeve. This one looks the best to me - it works great, but replacing springs will be tougher...

http://www.kahr.com/Guide-Rods-and-Barrels/Kahr-Stainless-Steel-Guide-Rod-MK-Series-MSGR.asp

Wolff Gun Springs sells a non-captured assembly that many MK owners like. Very easy to change out springs, and it's all metal also (last I heard).

https://www.gunsprings.com/KAHR%20ARMS/cID1/mID29/dID340



http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14898&stc=1

[JethrosDad]

Thanks for the info Ed M,

I really like those grip screws. Mine are the standard K9 screws and sunk down into the grip. I will look into the 1911 grip screw option for sure. If I do have to cut some of the threads off will a Dremel with blade attachment, then round it off with a file work?

Regarding the guide rod, I did some searching through old threads last night and I will probably go for the wolff option. I have wolff springs in some of my other guns and they are top notch.

[Ed M]

Just so you know, if you have a Kahr - any Kahr - it has Wolff springs in it. They're OEM for Kahr.

If you're careful, you'd probably get away with the dremel/file thing. Much easier to just use 0-rings, and they offer other benefits as mentioned in my post above. They'll help the look of those K9 screws too.

A tiny dab of blue loctite will work to keep things snug, but you really need to remove the grips periodically to check for corrosion. Stainless DOES rust. A thorough wipe down of the grip area under the grips with a good oil or even a silicone cloth is wise, especially if you carry the gun in a pocket or IWB. Sweat does bad things to guns. The o-rings make this easier to do. Some 1911 screw sets even come with them - it's a fairly common practice in the 1911 world...

[JethrosDad]

Thank for the info Ed

So would something like this work.... https://www.amazon.com/Challis-STAINLESS-DIABLO-O-Rings-Complete/dp/B0731N8P56/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1503692005&sr=8-29&keywords=1911+grip+screws

[Bawanna]

Yup.

[Ed M]

Thank for the info Ed

So would something like this work.... https://www.amazon.com/Challis-STAINLESS-DIABLO-O-Rings-Complete/dp/B0731N8P56/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1503692005&sr=8-29&keywords=1911+grip+screws

Those look really good! If the 0-rings they give you with those screws aren't thick enough, keep the Home Depot kit in mind. Mine took the thickest ones in the kit....

[Bawanna]

I get mine from Fusion. They have lots of different screws and packages of the o rings as well.

[JethrosDad]

Hey Ed, I went ahead and ordered the 1911 grip screws w/ o rings. When you got your o-rings at big box store did you take one of the screws in an try it on different ones or did you buy a just and assorted pack and use which ones you need. Also if you use the o-rings does that mean no blue Loctite?

[Ed M]

I bought a small assortment - it was like $5.

Think it was the #5 or #6 that wound up being the ones I used.

I've since bought a larger assortment from Harbor Freight that was around $10. The o-rings eventually flatten out, and with taking the grips off occasionally to keep things underneath free from rust, I figured its a good thing to have on hand.

No loctite necessary when you use o-rings. No need to crank the screws down hard either - works really well. The hardest part is putting the little things on the screws - its a snug fit.

[Bawanna]

https://vzgrips.com/o-rings

I think I ordered 5 packs of these last time. At 2 bucks a set of four, it's not bad and they are all the correct size.

Fusion also has them but they are a bit more and now for some strange reason they are white, which really don't matter since they pretty much don't show once the grip screw is installed.

You will need the longer screws, the original factory ones won't be long enough to compensate for the o ring.

[JethrosDad]

Thanks guys, you are both very helpful. I will post a picture once I get the new grip screws on! Once a little more money comes in I'll be ordering the Wolff guide rod and springs as well. :cool: