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ScotP7
05-12-2012, 11:08 AM
All,

I'm a long-term K9 owner, and moderate-time lurker, not sure if I've posted before, but wanted to ask about a curiosity. Or maybe I am doing or seeing something wrong or missing something, which happens a lot ... (In which case tell me.)

I've owned a couple of old model K9's from the mid 90's since they first came out, which have been great through 1000's of rounds. The takedown, requiring a mallet or hammer to remove the slide stop pin from right to left (which, when finally struck exactly correctly, pleasantly flew out of the slide about 10' in the air), always struck me as partly a PIA and partly as amusing. It was nice that over time, it "loosened" up, so it could be removed more readily, and so I never thought too much about it, except that it always remained a slight bear to remove.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago, and I finally sprung for a PM9. Great little gun, can't believe I didn't jump before. I was surprised to find how easy it was to remove the slide stop pin with the feature of aligning the witness marks. It also seemed to make for easier re-assembly. I figured the difference in take down was something about this being a polymer gun.

Then, finally, I got a T9, which I'd fondled and thought was great, but never tried to purchase. (Dumb that I delayed.) Wow. What a great heft, feel, and accuracy. Maybe even better than the K9, at least for me. Talk about a hidden gem. When I went to take it down to do pre-shooting clean and lube, I got out my wooden mallet, but was again pleasantly surprised to find those witness marks, which made the take down so much easier. Huh, well, I figured that those witness marks were something added to the later models of Kahr pistols.

Now, more recently, I bought a NIB K9 '03 Elite. As much as I like my models from the 90's, this is really great. I figured it was a newer, 21st century model, so I didn't put the mallet on the table. But no witness marks! It was fun to tap tap and see the pin fly out across the room like the good old days.

My question is whether I am missing something, or whether the take down process (ie the internals) of the K9 and other models are different?

Thanks for all of the iteresting info on this great forum, and for your patience in reading my happy adventures with different models of this great pistol.

Scott

kb2wji
05-12-2012, 11:53 AM
The notch in the slide for the slide lock / take down pin lines up where the take down pin goes through the frame. Once thats lined up, it doesnt take much more than a push and the pin will pop out.

My K9 does not have witness marks either.

My PM9 has witness marks, but if they are lined up, the pin wont come out.

Generally i'll put a little pressure on the pin, then slowly pull the slide back until I feel that "click". Then I push harder and it'll pop out.

Welcome to the forum! I'm a little jealous of the Elite!! I picked up an NYPD K9 trade a little while ago and love it.

jocko
05-12-2012, 12:03 PM
the K9 ( I have one) need no witness mark as the slide lock pin just lines up with the cut in the slide, it is very obvious. On the PM polymer kahrs as u know that little springhy thing has to let the slide lock lever line up correctly or u can damage it, those witness marks are u guide, but I bet most every over here after a few times taking thier polymer guns apart don't use the witness mark but again just line up the half moon in the picture window of the slide stop with the cut out in the slide and it will come out.

None of those slide stops are made to come out, just willy nilly IMO. K9 for sure are hard but of the two I would take a K9 slide stop set up anyt daytovber the polymer kahrd with the more delicate little shringhy that holds the slide stop in place and also serves to raise the lever to. Both are good. One is better for over all durablility. U canbnbot ruin the slide stop spring in ur K9, u can if careless can really fokk up ur polymer spring. I cannot take either slide lock leve rout of my kahrs merely by hand, I use "something"
when I disassemble to do that. It is what it is, not like u are taking it down every 30 minutes. Not sure the K9
's get any easier with time and usage as if u look at how that slide stop spring is designed, I see no lessening of strength there, IMO.

If u get that little springhyt out of whack, u will find the slide lock lever drifing outward and then ur gonna have issues, so just follow the manual as to how it tells u to install the slide lock and after a few times u can do it blindfolded.

downtownv
05-12-2012, 12:45 PM
Ok I gotta k-9 my wife a cw9 the k-9 is much easier to find the alignment points.

ripley16
05-12-2012, 02:14 PM
My question is whether I am missing something, or whether the take down process (ie the internals) of the K9 and other models are different?
The K9 uses the stiffer, harder to work retention spring on the right side of the frame. The T9 is made like the polymer Kahrs and had a smaller spring on the left to hold the slide release. The T9 is a pleasure to dismantle that needs no tool, versus the K9, which requires a tool and some practice.

jocko
05-12-2012, 02:31 PM
I think I might need to change my signature line a tad, as I am told that more illegals now are going BACK across to their border where they belong, so maybe I can give my trusty PM9 a vacation. Just sayin.

ScotP7
05-12-2012, 05:24 PM
Thanks, all.
Please note I'm not complaining. There is something comforting in a chunk of metal partly designed to control a devasting explosion not coming undone too easily...
Ripley -- that fits. I appreciate the explanation.
I would have thought the K9 and T9 would have been more similar. I guess the original K9 really is the Cadillac.
I'll bet the MK9 is line the K9?
Scott

7shot
05-31-2012, 12:34 PM
The T9 is a pleasure to dismantle that needs no tool, versus the K9, which requires a tool and some practice.

He said "tool"...this just means I can play with it longer! ;)

Barth
06-01-2012, 02:30 PM
My MK40 Elite has witness marks and was a real monster to break down when new.
After 400 rounds now it's cake.
Although the recoil spring is super strong.
And it's still my hardest gun to rack the slide.

My Glock G27 and Sig P239 recoil springs seem amazingly light when compared.

My full size P220 has a stronger recoil spring than the G27 or P239.
But nothing close to the MK40!

jocko
06-01-2012, 02:43 PM
mY GLOCK MAN TOLDME MY g19 REECOIL SPRINGS WERE FACTORY 13# no wonder they are so easy to work the slide.

downtownv
06-01-2012, 06:17 PM
My MK40 Elite has witness marks and was a real monster to break down when new.
After 400 rounds now it's cake.
Although the recoil spring is super strong.
And it's still my hardest gun to rack the slide.

My Glock G27 and Sig P239 recoil springs seem amazingly light when compared.

My full size P220 has a stronger recoil spring than the G27 or P239.
But nothing close to the MK40!
My 1911 Kimber is the my hardest to rack.