Various mods performed on my CM9 to improve it functionally

[Bang_button]

Anybody who knows me personally is aware that in time I modify certain knives, guns, watches and so on so they are better, at least in my eyes. I realize not everyone will agree with my choices, but that's life.

In that vein, I thought I'd share some photos of my CM 9 that has been changed a bit, to suit me in particular. I like it. BTW, this gun has a bit over 1,000 flawless rounds though it, with nary a hitch in terms of function, although two of the mag followers have broken, for reasons many veteran (and newbie, too) member will appreciate.

However, this thread is not about followers, but about mods I've found to be helpful.

Here are some photos. You'll notice that I've stippled the grips 360. Polished the trigger. Polished the sides of the slide (not to a mirror, but until it's noticeably shiny) but not the top, polished away all sharp edges on the slide and frame (with the exception of the slide serrations), reshaped the magazine release so it doesn't mess with my thumbs, transformed the standard front sight into something roughly approximating a large dot with GlowInc's night sight paint,and a few other subtle mods not worthy of mention here.

Herewith, the pics:

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Schwartzy1/CM9a_zpsdc82d1ac.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/Schwartzy1/media/CM9a_zpsdc82d1ac.jpg.html)



http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Schwartzy1/CM9b_zpsb49ae0c6.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/Schwartzy1/media/CM9b_zpsb49ae0c6.jpg.html)


http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Schwartzy1/CM9c_zps4757042d.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/Schwartzy1/media/CM9c_zps4757042d.jpg.html)


http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Schwartzy1/CM9e_zps927b9665.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/Schwartzy1/media/CM9e_zps927b9665.jpg.html)


http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Schwartzy1/CM9f_zpsc094b0b5.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/Schwartzy1/media/CM9f_zpsc094b0b5.jpg.html)


http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Schwartzy1/CM9g_zps829c2350.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/Schwartzy1/media/CM9g_zps829c2350.jpg.html)


Glowing:

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Schwartzy1/CM9d_zps9f826d0c.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/Schwartzy1/media/CM9d_zps9f826d0c.jpg.html)



Thanks for looking!

Bang Button

[DavidR]

Thanks for sharing. I like what you did with the sights.

[Tundra5.7]

Nice additions. How does that sight paint hold up? I tried some about 20 years ago on a back up pistol when I was in the le academy. It did not hold up very well then.

[Bang_button]

Nice additions. How does that sight paint hold up? I tried some about 20 years ago on a back up pistol when I was in the le academy. It did not hold up very well then.


Thanks, Tundra. The stuff has changed a lot over the years. This is a special formulation specifically developed in conjunction with shooters for use on guns. The maker says you want the paint to be at least 1/16" thick. To get that thickness and try to make it durable I needed to drill a recess in a screw that I drilled out and then used diamond bits to make a conical cavity in it, which after letting it dry was installed into the CM9's drilled out front sight.

Durability of the paint can be enhanced by applying a layer of epoxy over it, but I didn't go that route. The paint comes in a syringe which simplifies application, and it's also water based which works out just fine. To redo it is very easy: drill the cavity out and reapply. Haven't had to do that yet.

Here's a link to the stuff on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Night-Sight-Paint-Rifles-Firearms/dp/B00FKZ1GL2 (http://www.amazon.com/Night-Sight-Paint-Rifles-Firearms/dp/B00FKZ1GL2)

[yqtszhj]

I like the grip stippling. looks good.

[root]

Looks good. Sometimes I see a stipling job and it makes me cringe, yours looks great, however!

What did you use to polish the slide? I picked up a firearm last summer that had an original slide similar in color to that of my Kahr, but it was polished to an almost mirror finish and the laser etching with the brand/model was polished out. Looks quite good now, but I am unsure what was used to make it that way.

Since I am confident I'll be keeping my Kahr I may be interested in doing the same to my slide.

I'm too scared to stiple it, so I'll add Talon grips perhaps instead ;)

[Schriscoe]

Very nice, I must say! I prefer my Talon grips, but each to his own.

[Bang_button]

I like the grip stippling. looks good.


Thanks! Feels good too!

[Bang_button]

Looks good. Sometimes I see a stipling job and it makes me cringe, yours looks great, however!

What did you use to polish the slide? I picked up a firearm last summer that had an original slide similar in color to that of my Kahr, but it was polished to an almost mirror finish and the laser etching with the brand/model was polished out. Looks quite good now, but I am unsure what was used to make it that way.

Since I am confident I'll be keeping my Kahr I may be interested in doing the same to my slide.

I'm too scared to stiple it, so I'll add Talon grips perhaps instead ;)

Thanks for the compliment on the stippling! Much appreciated.

For the polishing I started with skateboard tape, to get through the matt finish and down to the "normal" stainless. Then I went through progressive grits of wet-or-dry sandpaper with water. First 220, then 320, then 400. I didn't have any 600 or finer grit on hand. Then I used one of those green diswhwashing pads that has some grit impregnated in it. Then I used Flitz on it with a felt dremel wheel, then Flitz on a clean rag, until it reached the degree of polishing I wanted. I didn't want a mirror finish, just wanted it to look like brushed stainless steel. Very easy to touch up with the green pad, and restores the look in just a minute or two. Nothing special to doing it.

I forgot to say that I rounded all the sharp edges on the slide with the drum sander on a dremel. Then after that I went the way of the Wet or Dry as mentioned above, etc. No sharp edges to snag anywhere, or to torture my fingers!

[oppi27]

I used the same paint on mine. But now that I've just added the laser guard I don't know if i would have painted them. Looks good.

[Bang_button]

I used the same paint on mine. But now that I've just added the laser guard I don't know if i would have painted them. Looks good.

Understood. Thanks for the compliment.

One of the issues I have is my glasses don't bring the front sight clearly into focus unless I'm shooting one handed, and I'm not going to train using special glasses that I probably won't have on in a self-defense situation, so, I've compensated by using a large front sight. It's much easier to acquire the front sight on followup shots and the fact that it's white in normal light is a tremendous bonus. That it glows in the dark makes it even better.

[getsome]

That looks real good Bang buton, I really like the stippling too...How is the follower mod you did holding up? I think your follower mod is the answer rather than major surgery to the barrel feed ramp to prevent broken follower syndrome....

[SaltyNC]

Does the glow paint need to be charged with a light? If so, how long will it glow? I'm just thinking if the front sight is normally concealed, it wouldn't have much opportunity to be exposed to light.

SaltyNC

[Bang_button]

Thanks, Getsome. The follower is doing fine, no problems at all so far.



That looks real good Bang buton, I really like the stippling too...How is the follower mod you did holding up? I think your follower mod is the answer rather than major surgery to the barrel feed ramp to prevent broken follower syndrome....

[Bang_button]

If you charge it for a few seconds with a very strong (800 lumens) flashlight, it can still be seen well enough to aim adequately in super dim light, with your eyes adjusted for that, as would be the case if you are sleeping and wake up, to be seen for an easy 6 hours. Perhaps longer.


Does the glow paint need to be charged with a light? If so, how long will it glow? I'm just thinking if the front sight is normally concealed, it wouldn't have much opportunity to be exposed to light.

SaltyNC