First Kahr

[nickbales]

I have wanted to try the cm9 as my edc for a while now and finally went for it. Found a decent deal locally that came with 3 extra mags and a cheap owb holster and very quickly decided to customize the kahr slightly to my needs. the cm is a tool to me and as such I want to make it the ideal carry gun. I decided for sure I am getting it cerakoted black... single colored firearms to me seem better for edc because if my shirt ever gets caught on it or it shows for any reason I'd rather not have contrasting colors, seems like it would draw more attention from wandering eyes, so this was a no brainer for me. Next up I want a slight melt and since it scares the daylight out of me to sand/file my gun I knew I should do it myself and get over it! Started with 600 grit. Went nicely around the ejection port as I didnt want it to rounded off but the front and rear was taking way to long. Got a file and started going at it. Trick is to put a small amount of pressure so it doesn't cut to deep and require a lot more 600 grit work to smooth it out. Probably have a couple hours total into it but a good portion of that time was spent rubbing with sand paper to smooth out while watching tv. The only spot I'm thinking about doing more is the slide stop, is it hardened?!?! The file doesn't take it down and drives me crazy! I took it to the range to make sure it functioned properly before the cerakote job. Hopefully it'll get sprayed this weekend!

Also, had a mag follower break, emailed Kahr and no questions asked one is on it's way :)


Stamping was rough so I smoothed that out
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7410/16565649746_2fc6288231_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/reRhwN)


I've done a little more but the infamous sharp spot on the ejection port
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7418/16590992822_2532219629_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rh6b9o)


Smooth as butter with my carry ammo but it wasn't a huge fan of the tulammo. Had one failure to feed on the second or third round where it stop 1/4" short. Other than that the only issue I had was on the first round of the mag when I racked the slide but when I used the slide release it functioned 100%. Noticed also with the 7 rd mags if I slap the mag in the slide drops on its own but not concerned with that as I think it was the tulammo hitting the slide release. It didn't do it at all with the Hornady.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7382/16404618320_85f76fb7cf_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qZBXuU)


Hard to see in pictures but here is the slight melt on the back
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/16590447271_08c9594d5b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rh3nYk)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/16404619580_fed94cb018_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qZBXSC)

And the front
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8641/16590449601_52ba243c47_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rh3oEv)

[Scrambler]

Nice handiwork on the slide. A CM9 is an awesome carry gun IMHO. Looking forward to seeing it when you are finished.

[nickbales]

My rule is to not carry a gun till I've put a few hundred rounds through it minimum, to learn it and build confidence in it. I have bent that rule and carried it a few times tho and it is a major difference from my kimber pro carry! I don't mind carrying the kimber but the size made me lose confidence in its conceal ability. In some of my carry situations it would have very negative ramifications if it was seen. Being legally able to carry is a separate issue from being in a position that prohibits anyone ever knowing and I got tired of not carrying because I was nervous it was going to show! EDC for me was more like MEDC most every day.

So far I'm loving it and I will post more pics as it progresses.

[nickbales]

Some updates, including a few more pics of the melt...

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8639/16457233840_b64dbbbe3b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r5gCg3)


Ready for paint
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8568/16644628845_85411f6e7a_c.jpg


(https://flic.kr/p/rmQ5gp)https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8604/16022334804_c2afdd2554_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qpQDVN)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8625/16643221141_4bdbdcc839_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rmGRND)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8575/16457242470_fdf3bb0221_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r5gEPQ)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8641/16458463269_4bfa2c7deb_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r5nVJ6)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8648/16618715546_d5b4c5b012_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rjxg9o)

The mags are great... They fall out with ease as they did before the cerakote. I am going to try a buddies un-koted mag to see if there is any noticeable difference to them sliding out. It actually seems like they fall faster. Knowing the lubricity factor of cerakote may be fooling my mind to think they are falling faster so I am interested to try it one after the other.

The only down side, and it is marginal in my eyes, is the slide release is noticeably tighter and very difficult to pull without using something to to pry it out. I am going to take some sand paper to it and see if I can keep the entire thing black but make tear down a little easier. Worst case scenario I will sand the shaft down and keep the visible parts koted.

I just need to order a front sight as the job got done faster than I anticipated it caught me off guard.

[diablo53]

I'd love to see the slide after a few months of EDC. Every Cerakoted EDC carry gun I have seen has a tone of scratches. I'd like to know if the Cerakote wasn't applied correctly on those other guns, or if the finish is just not as good as claimed. I would like to get a gun or few of mine Cerakoted, but I don't have safe queens, they are all shooters. The factory finish has held up fine on every gun Ive ever had, except the Kimber. The KimPro finish is like thin paint. It was a beauty and I sold it, because I don't have any safe queens and I would be upset if i messed up a beautiful $1300 gun!

[berettabone]

It will wear down, just like any other coating. It makes a crappy looking firearm better looking for the time being, but will eventually wear.

[nickbales]

I will post updates on how it lasts. This is an EDC and will get zero special treatment. Some of my others which have all been EDC'd at some point have the regular wear marks from EDC but had some special treatment due to my sentimental feelings towards them. This is nothing but a tool to me and will be put through its paces for sure!

One thing I found interesting was he said he was going to bead blast it as that is suggested by cerakote to get a good bond. Never looked into doing it myself much but hadn't heard that before.

I'm not too worried how this one looks just wanted a darker slide for concealment reasons.

[CJ226]

Looks awesome! The melt turned out pretty cool, might have to try this my self.

[Nytcrawler93]

I am interested in how the mags wear. They look SHARP. Love it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GA_Sheepdog]

Awesome job on the cerakote. I thought it was a P9 when I first seen the pics. You are correct about it being a tool for defense but its even better when it looks that good. How many rounds have you put through it so far?

[nickbales]

Got it with about 100 through it. Put 250 through it right away and now that its back plan on putting another 250 through it.

I prefer it to look good but it is last on the priority list... I'm very happy with the results. I would think the mags would hold up pretty well considering they are mainly in contact with polymer. When I do some scenario drills this summer they will hit the ground a decent number of times, that will be a nice test.

[nickbales]

Made a quick kydex piece to carry the kahr with my white hat hybrid... a little unfinished but functions great! Gonna make some modifications to this one for the time being until I have time to build a press. Plan on making an all kydex iwb to try as well. Love my hybrid and unless the all kydex one is better will make another similar to this just better form to go with the function.

This will undoubtedly effect the wear we see on the slide.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8682/16663978151_37fefd1373_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/roxf98)