First Kahr! To polish or not?

[ajholt7]

I just traded a Kel-tec pf9 for a CW40. So far I love this thing. My dilemma right now is whether or not to polish everything to a mirror shine. Any suggestions? What else should I do to improve the gun if anything? Sights, etc.

[downtownv]

Chrome and polish won't make is shoot any better. Laserlyte sights are worth looking in to. Read here to learn your firearm. Welcome, I finally got a virgin, a first poster!

[ajholt7]

I never thought polishing would make it shoot better. I was just wondering the general opinion on polished vs. matte.

[Planedude]

Some do polish and have with stunning results. Kahrs have the base metal to polish well with some elbow grease.

For me, I will be adding the CW Trijicon sights to my 40 in the near future. When I do, I plan to send my slide to have it covered black (ish) by Robars. I just like to have a black gun in a black holster, on a black belt under my cover shirt...

The only right answer is what you decide. Enjoy your CW40, I have fired over 2K troublefree rounds over the years now and it's an every day carry till the Texas weather stays in the 100's.

Let us know what you decide and welcome to the KT madness.

Sights for the CW (that I'm installing):http://www.kahr.com/Sights/Kahr-CWCM-Trijicon-Night-Sights.asp
There are some others to pick from.

[n9znd]

I polished a Glock G19 Slide. I got slammed on the Glock Forum but didn't care. I think shiney is cool. Make sure you post pictures after you are done. Some of the Kahrs I have seen done look really cool. Too each their own, Do it! Jim

[FLBri]

I'm a fan of the high polish look. I say "go for it" also. It's visually stunning and not that hard to maintain ... especially when you do it yourself.

I actually like a shine "just" below mirror polish level. Sort of a high polish brushed effect. It hides insignificant surface marks, and is so easy to maintain every time I clean the gun. I just use a little gun oil on a very fine scotch brite pad ... perfect.

[PattayaPistol]

Polishing is something that is very personal. Many here really like it whereas I absolutely do not like a shiny finish on the outside of a gun. I prefer my guns black without any shine. You must decide what you like and take it from there.

Cheers
PP

[Bad_Brains]

I think "pimp" pistols look silly. A pistol is a tool, a weapon; not jewelry. The disadvantages of shiney are when you shoot in direct sunlight the glare blinds ya. When you have to shoot from cover/concealment at night the reflection say,...hear I am. Of course muzzle flash does the same thing.
When I see a guy carrying a "pimp pistol" or carrying in one of those exotic leather bolsters, I think to myself,...this guy is green,..he's Hollywood'n,..he reads too many gun magazines.
Give me a plain black pancake style holster made of cowhide with a thumb break. I don't even like the matt stainless finish on my CM9. I'd much rather that it be just plain flat black. One day I may send the slide out and have that done.

[JFootin]

See what you think...
http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/My%20Custom%20CM9/KahrCM9PolishedLSwMagandBullets.jpg
Here is the slideshow (http://s1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/My%20Custom%20CM9/?albumview=slideshow).

[Bawanna]

I like both. Thumb breaks on a holster are actually designed to keep a gun for falling out of a poorly fitting holster.

Everybody needs a barbecue or Sunday go to meeting type gun.

To me it's all personal preference and there is no wrong or right answer.

As for exotic leather rigs, if they fit properly and are comfortable, I'll take everyone I can afford.

No harm in looking cool, in fact even if I go down in a tactical blunder, I'd rather do so looking cool.

[kahrsport]

my thought were a gun i a tool but aesthetic is important too otherwise no woman would ever wear makeup... also that pic from jfootin is a nice looking polished gun me think... what's the password for the album? pm me cuz i wanna see the rest of the show

[Bawanna]

my thought were a gun i a tool but aesthetic is important too otherwise no woman would ever wear makeup... also that pic from jfootin is a nice looking polished gun me think... what's the password for the album? pm me cuz i wanna see the rest of the show

Be sure and wear a bib. She is a thing of beauty and the drool will flow.

[Chuck54]

Polished looks good......just not my cup of tea.

[Frayed Knot]

To me it's all personal preference and there is no wrong or right answer.



Very well said. Everyone has a different idea of what is right for them.

To the OP: go for it and post lots of pictures.

[ajholt7]

I really want to do it. The only thing stopping me is the point made about blinding myself in direct sunlight.

[Bawanna]

I don't think it's an issue. I polished my PM45, not quite to the level of Jfootins but shiny. You don't even notice and I tried it specifically in direct bright sun light.
I suppose in just the right angle under just the right circumstances it might glare. I suggest squinting or point shooting.

Another option would be to polish everything but a strip along the top of the slide. Mask off the area you want to leave mat.

[JFootin]

my thought were a gun i a tool but aesthetic is important too otherwise no woman would ever wear makeup... also that pic from jfootin is a nice looking polished gun me think... what's the password for the album? pm me cuz i wanna see the rest of the show

I changed the privacy setting. Try it again.

[JFootin]

I really want to do it. The only thing stopping me is the point made about blinding myself in direct sunlight.

When the sights are lined up, the top of the slide is perpendicular to your eye. So not a problem. :cool:

[jdavis]

Ajholt7, polish away! Your gun will look great and give you great satisfaction. As for the sight picture, do not polish the top of the slide. Leaving the top flat or brushed was common when nickel guns were common.
Bad Brains and others who think that a gun is simply a tool and should be ultra plain and have no eye appeal should trade all their guns for a Chiappa Rino. There is no eye appeal there and it could be used for a boat anchor or hammer also....it's a great tool.

[MW surveyor]

Just a suggestion, but polish the barrel hood first and see how you like it.

[PattayaPistol]

Ajholt7, polish away! Your gun will look great and give you great satisfaction. As for the sight picture, do not polish the top of the slide. Leaving the top flat or brushed was common when nickel guns were common.
Bad Brains and others who think that a gun is simply a tool and should be ultra plain and have no eye appeal should trade all their guns for a Chiappa Rino. There is no eye appeal there and it could be used for a boat anchor or hammer also....it's a great tool.

Wow, what an intelligent post. Do not be so presumptuous as to tell me what I should or should not think looks good. As I said above, it is a personal thing. The OP asked for opinions. I gave mine. Just because you disagree I would expect a more worthy post that to lump together then insult all who think differently. Would you like to hear what I really think?

Cheers
PP

[Tinman507]

Tool or Work of Art?
http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XCkTSf0swcQ/SofjuEojWHI/AAAAAAAAGI4/BBe14RG_-Us/s400/Piercingwitha%252Bgun.jpg&sa=X&ei=b_U8UJ7eMqTK6wHGtYDgAQ&ved=0CAQQ8wc4Eg&usg=AFQjCNHf_Fv43UBMgEDTd191C51cXnggpw

[muggsy]

If you choose to polish leave the top of the slide in a matte finish on the off chance that you may need to see your sights when the sun is shining. Stranger things have happened.

[muggsy]

Ajholt7, polish away! Your gun will look great and give you great satisfaction. As for the sight picture, do not polish the top of the slide. Leaving the top flat or brushed was common when nickel guns were common.
Bad Brains and others who think that a gun is simply a tool and should be ultra plain and have no eye appeal should trade all their guns for a Chiappa Rino. There is no eye appeal there and it could be used for a boat anchor or hammer also....it's a great tool.

Concealed carry pistols are primarily tools. Why adorn something that only you and the BG will ever see? Perps are seldom impressed with scroll engraving or a high polish. Function over form. They all look the same in the dark. :)

[jdavis]

Sorry PP, I didn't mean to offend you. I do get annoyed when hearing " a gun is just a tool" anytime someone asks about altering the appearance of a gun or adding some accessory. The vast majority of civilian gun owners do not use a gun as a "tool" but rather for recreation or entertainment.

[Bawanna]

It's kind of like polished aluminum valve covers on my cars of yesteryear. Nobody could see them with the hood down but I knew they were there and they made me feel warm and fuzzy.

Nice tooled leather, engraving, polishing, wood grips, all add to looking cool, and in my small world that's job one.

Not to say that a plain jane parkerized GI style 1911 doesn't exude cool too, it certainly does in it's own way.

I really have no feelings whatsoever for punks or BG's. I don't care what impresses them in the least. I know my toys will spend alot more time being carried, worn and cared for by me than drilling BG's. Sometimes life just isn't fair in that respect.

If they'd just allow me to utilize my very good profiling skills I might be able to use it much more often.

[PattayaPistol]

Sorry PP, I didn't mean to offend you. I do get annoyed when hearing " a gun is just a tool" anytime someone asks about altering the appearance of a gun or adding some accessory. The vast majority of civilian gun owners do not use a gun as a "tool" but rather for recreation or entertainment.

Thanks for the apology. I get what you are saying. It was really just being lumped all together with posts that I didn't necessarily agree with got me upset. I shouldn't read the forum late at night (here in Thailand). All good mate. :p

Cheers
PP

[Bawanna]

I just love the way he says "All good mate". Gotta nice ring to it. You know that Crocodile Dundee fella by any chance. He says that too.

Wish he's make some more movies. I'm kinda partial to em.

[PattayaPistol]

You know that Crocodile Dundee fella by any chance.

Funny you should ask Bawanna, he taught me all I know about knives. Always carry a big one hahaha.

Cheers
PP

[Bawanna]

Oh his knife is my favorite. And fishing in NY harbor with dynamite. Gotta love that guy.

I hold my Kukri whenever I watch him, just gotta love it too.

[Diocoles]

Due to scratches that were visible on the shroud, I polished the barrel and shroud to a nice shine. Not mirror. I think it looks good. Tried doing the slide stop and didn't like the effect.
I like my matte slide, so I got another slide stop that matches it. No biggie there. Glad I tried the look before I did the slide.
Those pics of the highly polished one looked good, but I'd be constantly wiping it down at that high of a gloss.
I'm a bit .... :der: about things like that...

[JFootin]

Due to scratches that were visible on the shroud, I polished the barrel and shroud to a nice shine. Not mirror. I think it looks good. Tried doing the slide stop and didn't like the effect.
I like my matte slide, so I got another slide stop that matches it. No biggie there. Glad I tried the look before I did the slide.
Those pics of the highly polished one looked good, but I'd be constantly wiping it down at that high of a gloss.
I'm a bit .... :der: about things like that...

I handle it by the rubber grip a lot and occasionally wipe it down with a silicone impregnated cloth. The silicone seems to cut down on fingerprints. I also have some Flitz gun wax I want to try on it. But it stays looking pretty nice without a lot of attention.

[cw45fan]

I polished only the banner sides of my CW45's slide... Left the top matte... It was pretty easy with a lot of elbow grease... I like it... It's holding up fine.

http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab293/tel_meagain/077-1.jpg