View Full Version : Kahr Barrel Polish Mod
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-02-2015, 05:59 AM
I just finished up polishing a few parts in my CM9. It turned out pretty nice, and is definitely more smooth. I also made a vid showing how to do it. Check it out:
Bling up your Kahr: For basically free!: http://youtu.be/gWzd_eFXqy8
muggsy
03-02-2015, 08:26 AM
Kahr barrels are nickle plated for lubricity to prevent galling and shouldn't be polished.
berettabone
03-02-2015, 09:11 AM
You do realize that it won't stay that way?????????????????
Alfonse
03-02-2015, 09:59 AM
Nice! Smoother is better.
SlowBurn
03-02-2015, 10:10 AM
Kahr barrels are nickle plated for lubricity to prevent galling and shouldn't be polished.
Eek. Does Flitz remove nickle plating?
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-02-2015, 10:32 AM
Kahr barrels are nickle plated for lubricity to prevent galling and shouldn't be polished.
Hmm really?
I didn't remove any metal, just polished ir up.
addictedhealer
03-02-2015, 02:14 PM
Don't worry about it, some members think kahrs are the greatest thing ever left alone. I did my barrel probably a year ago and have only went over it once and still looks outstanding.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-02-2015, 02:58 PM
Don't worry about it, some members think kahrs are the greatest thing ever left alone. I did my barrel probably a year ago and have only went over it once and still looks outstanding.
Nice, that's what I needed to hear :)
b4uqzme
03-02-2015, 03:06 PM
Polish mine all the time...:o
muggsy
03-02-2015, 03:16 PM
The act of polishing removes metal. I doubt that you hurt anything, but repeated polishing will eventually ware through the plating and galling of the barrel may be the end result. Your gun functioned just fine before you polished it. I believe that if something isn't broken you shouldn't try to fix it. Particularly, when you don't know exactly what you are doing. You made something look pretty that no one, but you, will ever see. It's your gun and you're free to do with it as you will. Care not I.
Bawanna
03-02-2015, 05:09 PM
I polished mine, never touch it up and it's still shiny. I didn't remove any nickel plating, perhaps a millagigabytes, whatever the smallest thickness you can think of might be.
Didn't hurt a thing. Basically just polished up the nickel more than anything else.
You sure ain't gonna hurt nothing with flitz on a rag and your hands.
b4uqzme
03-02-2015, 05:15 PM
Ok, before I get too far off track...will somebody define "barrel"? :rolleyes:
SlowBurn
03-02-2015, 08:16 PM
Ok, before I get too far off track...will somebody define "barrel"? :rolleyes:
The part of a gun where the bullet comes out.
Acasper708
03-03-2015, 04:57 AM
Polished mine a while ago.
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/acasper708/CW45/B6DCD03C-C2D1-4A6F-812B-C63AD614D23D-9819-000005BE6167D191.jpg
It doesn't look so nice after a few boxes through it.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-03-2015, 01:07 PM
Polished mine a while ago.
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/acasper708/CW45/B6DCD03C-C2D1-4A6F-812B-C63AD614D23D-9819-000005BE6167D191.jpg
It doesn't look so nice after a few boxes through it.
Geez, that came out way shinier than mine! It's beautiful!
Im with Muggsy on this one. Plus, the frosty finish holds into lube bettter than Monica Lewinsky at a cigar party.
Acasper708
03-03-2015, 01:34 PM
Thanks, I did it with a bench grinder/buffing wheel and jewelers finishing compound.
It's not so pretty anymore.
I also took a Qtip with polishing compound and stuck it in a drill. Then ran it through the firing pin passage.
The firing pin is just as shiny as well.
I also polished the guide rod and a few spots on the inside of the slide.
Where the barrel slides through the slide and also the inside of the slide that slides over the breach.
It runs great but still has a few mag related failures do to 1911 mags.
Runs flawless with stock mag.
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/acasper708/CW45/E4145DE7-F484-4516-8915-1C5F08A8EE22-9819-000005BEA0D3DAF3.jpg
And the first time shooting after polish job.
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/acasper708/CW45/FE1E01E6-BDFA-4ED0-A54F-DE91BD35840A-9819-000005C0A66C6836.jpg
I haven't polished it since. I think of it as a strictly CC gun. I've smoothed out the handle and mag well a bit as well.
berettabone
03-03-2015, 02:08 PM
Like pissing your pants in a dark suit.........it gives you a warm feeling, but nobody notices.............
Bawanna
03-03-2015, 02:34 PM
I never owned a suit. Pissed my pants a few times though.
Bikehiker
03-03-2015, 02:57 PM
Good idea. Thanks for the video. I don't think polishing will hurt the metal any more than normal usage. There are areas on the barrel, trigger, etc., that will experience wear over the years just from shooting the thing, and that doesn't seem to hurt guns. It's even possible that you could have improved the functioning, albeit slightly, because of the relative tightness of the Kahrs.
b4uqzme
03-03-2015, 03:12 PM
I'm with PMO on this one. I think you can do just fine with a clean cloth by hand vs. using a wheel. A wheel is gonna cause a lot of heat and that might lead to a little metal loss IMHO. But probably nano-metal either way. Funny, I did this to both my steel Kahrs but left the CM45 alone. The matte finish on the CM barrel seems to be holding up real well and looks very good just as it is.
And yes Muggsy, looks do matter. :) Just ask my wife!
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-03-2015, 04:21 PM
I never owned a suit. Pissed my pants a few times though.
Haha!
Metal loss. See the black stuff on the rag or wheel? Thats your nickel plating. Try putting it back on.
We've seen polished chambers that had the plating wear through.
The plating serves a few purposes. As Mr. Muggsy said, its there for anti galling. Its also there to fight corrosion, and its there to hold lube, Sort of an all in one general fix sort of plating. The stainless slide and carbon steel barrel may or may not gall, but stainless tends to gall more easily if given a chance. The nickle isn't too thick, but it gets the job done.
muggsy
03-04-2015, 06:39 AM
All that I can say is that you are a man of great intelligence, CJB. :) I appreciate the back-up.
muggsy
03-04-2015, 06:43 AM
I'm with PMO on this one. I think you can do just fine with a clean cloth by hand vs. using a wheel. A wheel is gonna cause a lot of heat and that might lead to a little metal loss IMHO. But probably nano-metal either way. Funny, I did this to both my steel Kahrs but left the CM45 alone. The matte finish on the CM barrel seems to be holding up real well and looks very good just as it is.
And yes Muggsy, looks do matter. :) Just ask my wife!
You wife must be far sighted, B4uqzme. My wife married me for my vast wealth. :)
muggsy
03-04-2015, 04:55 PM
Kahr went to a lot of trouble and didn't spare any expense to nickel plate the barrels. I can't think of a single U.S. company that does anything that they don't feel is necessary when making their products. The plating on a Kahr Barrel is between .0003 and .0005. That's about half the thickness of an RCH. Don't polish too, hard.
b4uqzme
03-04-2015, 07:26 PM
You wife must be far sighted, B4uqzme. My wife married me for my vast wealth. :)
Vast sumpin'. :rolleyes:
b4uqzme
03-04-2015, 07:29 PM
Kahr went to a lot of trouble and didn't spare any expense to nickel plate the barrels. I can't think of a single U.S. company that does anything that they don't feel is necessary when making their products. The plating on a Kahr Barrel is between .0003 and .0005. That's about half the thickness of an RCH. Don't polish too, hard.
I hear ya muggsy and good advice. I saw a Yankee Marshal vid where he takes the dremel to it and I really don't advise that either. I really just shine mine a bit with a soft cloth and some polish. It's nowhere near a "mirror" finish but it looks good enough to me.
muggsy
03-05-2015, 07:06 AM
The barrel is the most expensive part of the gun. I don't do anything to mine but, clean and lube it. That's all that that's necessary. I can't see where polishing the barrel improves the performance of the gun in the least. It's just cosmetic. To each his own.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-05-2015, 12:55 PM
The barrel is the most expensive part of the gun. I don't do anything to mine but, clean and lube it. That's all that that's necessary. I can't see where polishing the barrel improves the performance of the gun in the least. It's just cosmetic. To each his own.
Definitely cosmetic. I liked how it looked on various guns that had it done, was bored, so I did it.
diablo53
03-05-2015, 03:42 PM
I had one of the older square nose pm9's, I know for a fact it did not have the same nickel finish my new pm9 has. I was just a matte grey color and it buffed off really easily. So, maybe the nickel finish is not as important as some want to believe.
muggsy
03-05-2015, 04:05 PM
Yer right Diablo53, Kahr probably just nickle plated the barrel to give those who are bored something to polish off. That make sense to even me. :)
SlowBurn
03-05-2015, 04:48 PM
To be honest I can't say I'm likely to go to the trouble of making a concealed Kahr pretty, but I do enjoy the vids because they're well done -quick, with no rambling or bs.
b4uqzme
03-05-2015, 06:05 PM
^^^ not me baby. I want my guns looking their best. Momma also taught me to wear clean underwear...just in case. :D
muggsy
03-06-2015, 08:19 AM
I want my guns performing at their best. I don't wear underwear. I'm out there and loving every minute of it. :)
b4uqzme
03-06-2015, 08:36 AM
:yo:
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-06-2015, 08:16 PM
Yer right Diablo53, Kahr probably just nickle plated the barrel to give those who are bored something to polish off. That make sense to even me. :)
Why you hatin'?
People have been polishing guns since inception. It's not a big deal, and did no damage. Have you never seen all the high end guns out there with high polish barrels? They don't seem to have any issues "holding lube". Way I see it, a smoother surface needs less lube to run right.
Folks who have dealt with plating, who have dealt with split .001's of an inch, and who don't through out the "a few thousandths" label without first having a real clear idea of what those few thousandths are, and what a few ten-thousandths are, also know that the plating is only so thick, and when you remove some, it is less thick.
Allowing the mechanism, with its manufacturing tolerances, to decide what areas to rub smooth, seems the right thing to do.
I have no idea what folks don't realize about taking off a bit of applied coating, and the effect that has - either great or negligable. Either way, the effect is not good, its just a matter of degree.
muggsy
03-06-2015, 09:31 PM
Why you hatin'?
People have been polishing guns since inception. It's not a big deal, and did no damage. Have you never seen all the high end guns out there with high polish barrels? They don't seem to have any issues "holding lube". Way I see it, a smoother surface needs less lube to run right.
I'm not hating. I'm simply stating why Kahr went to the trouble to nickel plate their barrels and why they shouldn't be polished. I've already stated that if it's your gun, do with it what you will. You posted a video on you tube telling people to do something that IMO they shouldn't do. Some might say that you we're letting your ignorance show, but I wouldn't do that. Now, can we kiss and make up? :)
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-06-2015, 09:49 PM
I'm not hating. I'm simply stating why Kahr went to the trouble to nickel plate their barrels and why they shouldn't be polished. I've already stated that if it's your gun, do with it what you will. You posted a video on you tube telling people to do something that IMO they shouldn't do. Some might say that you we're letting your ignorance show, but I wouldn't do that. Now, can we kiss and make up? :)
Ignorance? I don't think showing how you can polish a barrel is ignorant.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-06-2015, 10:17 PM
Folks who have dealt with plating, who have dealt with split .001's of an inch, and who don't through out the "a few thousandths" label without first having a real clear idea of what those few thousandths are, and what a few ten-thousandths are, also know that the plating is only so thick, and when you remove some, it is less thick.
Allowing the mechanism, with its manufacturing tolerances, to decide what areas to rub smooth, seems the right thing to do.
I have no idea what folks don't realize about taking off a bit of applied coating, and the effect that has - either great or negligable. Either way, the effect is not good, its just a matter of degree.
I'm really surprised this post has gotten such a negative response. Clearly if a little flitz on a rag is so bad for a kahr, the rigors of daily carry must just be too much for the poor little thing. I should probably just put it in a drawer and forget about it..
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-06-2015, 10:24 PM
To be honest I can't say I'm likely to go to the trouble of making a concealed Kahr pretty, but I do enjoy the vids because they're well done -quick, with no rambling or bs.
Thanks, I try to keep it short and sweet.
berettabone
03-06-2015, 10:30 PM
I usually don't do anything to my firearms. I purchase a particular firearm for a particular reason/purpose. At the most, I will paint the sights and polish the feed ramp, or change a spring. We have people on this forum who polish barrels, change sights, round corners, cut down grips, shorten grips, stipple grips, checker grips, change springs, Cerekote, etc. I figure, if I wanted to do any of these things, I would just buy a different firearm, that had them, instead of changing something that was made a particular way, for a particular reason, and to be used as such. Personally, I wouldn't purchase a firearm that had all sorts of homespun ideas performed on it. Wouldn't trust it unless I did it myself. It's kind of like defacing a perfectly good firearm. Polishing a barrel is strictly for the owners pleasure. No one else cares. No one else sees it. I would rather have something else polished.....:p
muggsy
03-07-2015, 06:36 AM
Ignorance? I don't think showing how you can polish a barrel is ignorant.
You didn't know that Kahr had nickel plated the barrel to prevent galling. That was ignorance. You polished the barrel and made a video to show others how to do it. That added injury to insult. People who don't know exactly what they are doing and why, shouldn't work on things mechanical, particularly firearms. More fine firearms have been ruined by shade tree gunsmiths than by any other method.
SlowBurn
03-07-2015, 08:42 AM
I've learned something from this thread so I hope "abrasive" comments don't remove too much civil "plating" and become "galling."
Polishing with Flitz must remove some metal. But it's done all the time and has it ever actually caused a problem with a nickel plated barrel? Dunno, but it's worth at least thinking about.
Conclusion: nice vid, but I think the caveat about nickel plating is good info.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-07-2015, 08:46 AM
You didn't know that Kahr had nickel plated the barrel to prevent galling. That was ignorance. You polished the barrel and made a video to show others how to do it. That added injury to insult. People who don't know exactly what they are doing and why, shouldn't work on things mechanical, particularly firearms. More fine firearms have been ruined by shade tree gunsmiths than by any other method.
Who said I didn't know the barrel was nickle plated? I didn't remove any significant amount and did less damage than a 50 round range session. I know all about the galling issue Kahrs used to have that was due to a poor heat treat on a batch.
I'd argue that it's ignorant to say I did any significant damage.
And yes, the polishing was for my benefit. The operation is in fact smoother, and I see my gun every day. Why would I want to benefit anyone else? It's fun to customize, especially when it does absolutely no damage, and brings joy to the end user.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-07-2015, 09:07 AM
I've learned something from this thread so I hope "abrasive" comments don't remove too much civil "plating" and become "galling."
Polishing with Flitz must remove some metal. But it's done all the time and has it ever actually caused a problem with a nickel plated barrel? Dunno, but it's worth at least thinking about.
Conclusion: nice vid, but I think the caveat about nickel plating is good info.
Lol, true. Some good info, if you can see past the over inflated "risk" of polishing.
muggsy
03-07-2015, 06:36 PM
I've put thousands of rounds through my Kahr Pistols and the nickel plating is still intact. I expect it to be there long after I'm gone. If you believe that galling isn't a problem then I suggest that you tell Kahr Arms that Plating their barrels isn't necessary. Who knows, Kahr might even cut you in on the cost savings.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-07-2015, 07:00 PM
I've put thousands of rounds through my Kahr Pistols and the nickel plating is still intact. I expect it to be there long after I'm gone. If you believe that galling isn't a problem then I suggest that you you tell Kahr Arms that Plating their barrels isn't necessary. Who knows, Kahr might even cut you in on the cost savings.
Like I said, the nickle is strong. A quick polish with flitz isn't gonna do any harm.
Funny, my glock and m&p don't have nickle plating and they don't have galling issues...
Tilos
03-07-2015, 10:45 PM
Like I said, the nickle is strong. A quick polish with flitz isn't gonna do any harm.
Funny, my glock and m&p don't have nickle plating and they don't have galling issues...
PMO:
I use the same Nu Finish car polish I use for tumbling brass (some of it plated:madgrin:) for polishing gun parts, way cheaper than Flits:cool:
My B&D version of a dremmel is variable speed so I can slow it down, I just cut a Q-trip in half and chuck it up in that B&D for polishing with Nu Finish ;).
You'll need the cheap store brand Q-tips that have the paper wound centers, not the plastic/straw type tubes.
After seeing(not reading because of the ignore feature) the same members posting every other post, in this long drawn out thread, my sig line reference will make perfect sense to you
You might want to build your own list...
:biggrin1:
b4uqzme
03-07-2015, 11:17 PM
Sorry Tilos. You shouldn't condemn what you admit you didn't read. You can ignore anyone you wish but it would be best to keep your judgements quiet. It's sad to me that you are so proud of your ignore list. But you probably can't read this. :(
SmokyT
03-09-2015, 07:30 PM
FWIW, Kahr offers "Polish Package" and "Polish Package Deluxe" that actually include "polishing of barrel hood" as their "Upgrades & Service". (http://www.kahr.com/Upgrades-and-Service/Upgrades-and-Service.asp)
Tilos
03-10-2015, 12:05 AM
Sorry Tilos. You shouldn't condemn what you admit you didn't read. You can ignore anyone you wish but it would be best to keep your judgements quiet. It's sad to me that you are so proud of your ignore list. But you probably can't read this. :(
No need to be sorry, or even sad
Not sure if you noticed but my post was addressed to the OP
So your opinion of me, or my post is of no concern to me, nor is the drivel the usual scenters post...multiple times.
Those scenters are too intellectually challenged to see/understand they are being ignored.
Here's an idea...add ME to YOUR ignore list.
:)
b4uqzme
03-10-2015, 12:15 AM
^^^ good idea. Done. Thanks. :)
muggsy
03-10-2015, 01:37 PM
FWIW, Kahr offers "Polish Package" and "Polish Package Deluxe" that actually include "polishing of barrel hood" as their "Upgrades & Service". (http://www.kahr.com/Upgrades-and-Service/Upgrades-and-Service.asp)
The barrel and hood or just the hood. There is a difference.
muggsy
03-10-2015, 01:42 PM
Like I said, the nickle is strong. A quick polish with flitz isn't gonna do any harm.
Funny, my glock and m&p don't have nickle plating and they don't have galling issues...
Do your Glock and M&P have both stainless steel slides and stainless steel barrels? You got to compare apples to apples not apples to prunes.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-10-2015, 02:47 PM
Do your Glock and M&P have both stainless steel slides and stainless steel barrels? You got to compare apples to apples not apples to prunes.
I know the m&p is for sure, and I would be very surprised if the Glock was not.
Higgy Baby
03-10-2015, 02:54 PM
Glocks...M&P......apples and prunes??............which is which?
SlowBurn
03-10-2015, 09:38 PM
The barrel and hood or just the hood. There is a difference.
Hood and feed ramp as I read it. For extra $ they'll also polish the slide.
Tilos
03-10-2015, 11:23 PM
FWIW, Kahr offers "Polish Package" and "Polish Package Deluxe" that actually include "polishing of barrel hood" as their "Upgrades & Service". (http://www.kahr.com/Upgrades-and-Service/Upgrades-and-Service.asp)
Good Find :cool:
muggsy
03-11-2015, 05:47 AM
Hood and feed ramp as I read it. For extra $ they'll also polish the slide.
Read it again.
SlowBurn
03-11-2015, 06:14 AM
The barrel and hood or just the hood. There is a difference.
Hood and feed ramp as I read it. For extra $ they'll also polish the slide.
Read it again.
OK, basic package also includes the slide stop lever...
"The polish package is a full polish of feed ramps, slide stop lever, and barrel hood."
muggsy
03-11-2015, 07:38 AM
The barrel hood, but not the barrel.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-11-2015, 09:45 AM
The barrel hood, but not the barrel.
You pay extra for that...
smokersteve
03-11-2015, 12:05 PM
Purple Mountain Outdoors, nice quality video.
I don't polish any of my barrels because I'm lazy. It does look good though.
Save your time arguing with Muggsy because he knows everything and is always right.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
03-11-2015, 01:54 PM
Purple Mountain Outdoors, nice quality video.
I don't polish any of my barrels because I'm lazy. It does look good though.
Save your time arguing with Muggsy because he knows everything and is always right.
Lol okay thanks Steve!
Bobshouse
06-22-2015, 04:27 PM
I was walking through the penitentiary one day when I noticed this inmate looking at me intently, smiling with his gold teeth shining in his mouth. My brother who was stationed in Korea had sent me a fake Presidential Rolex for Christmas one year and I was wearing it that day. I walk over to the guy and he tells me that in his hood, id get my hand cut off for that watch.
I asked "Really?" showing him the face of the watch. He knew what he was talking about, as he immediately noticed it as a fake. He told me I was crazy for wearing that watch cause I'd get my hand cut off for nothing.
The only difference between my watch and the real Rolex was a ticking second hand. Rolex watches second hand are smooth.
I never wore that watch outside the joint after that.
Sometimes you need bling, you just gotta learn to watch how you get it.
muggsy
06-22-2015, 06:56 PM
Purple Mountain Outdoors, nice quality video.
I don't polish any of my barrels because I'm lazy. It does look good though.
Save your time arguing with Muggsy because he knows everything and is always right.
I thought that I was wrong once Steve, but I was mistaken. You're right, Kahr went to all the time, trouble and expense to plate the barrel just to give you something to polish. Don't pay any attention to what I say. I've only been involved with guns for about sixty years. I don't know squat.
addictedhealer
06-28-2015, 11:28 AM
Honestly who gives a **** who knows what? Man polished his barrel it looks good and I guarantee it isn't going to do any damage to the barrel. Leave it at that. Don't like it don't do it. It's a kahr not a custom 1911. Can be replaced for very little coin.
-Adam.
Frayed Knot
06-28-2015, 09:06 PM
Honestly who gives a **** who knows what? Man polished his barrel it looks good and I guarantee it isn't going to do any damage to the barrel. Leave it at that. Don't like it don't do it. It's a kahr not a custom 1911. Can be replaced for very little coin.
Amen brother.
muggsy
06-28-2015, 09:13 PM
All that I saying is that the barrels were plated to prevent galling. If you're impressed by a polished barrel then by all means polish it. It may void your warranty, but if you don't give a damn then neither do I.
muggsy
07-01-2015, 02:26 PM
I e-mailed Kahr service concerning the polishing of the barrels. The following was their reply.
Hello,
The nickel plating is to prevent rusting as the barrels are made from
Carbon Steel. If the plating is removed then the barrel can get surface
rust in certain conditions. Yes your warranty will be void if this plating
is removed by polishing.
Regards,
Kahr Arms/Auto Ordnance
130 Goddard Memorial Drive
Worcester, MA 01603
E-mail Address: service@kahr.com
Phone; (508)795-3919
Fax; (508)795-7046
From: Jay D'Andrea/Saeilo
To: Matt McKeon/Saeilo@SAEILO,
Date: 06/29/2015 09:01 AM
Subject: Fw: Plating
Bawanna
07-01-2015, 04:01 PM
For what tiny little bit it might be worth the barrel and hood polish very very easily with no effort. And most importantly there is no reason to polish off anywhere near all or even much of the plating. Seriously. It takes very little effort and your not gonna hurt anything hand polishing. I used a buffer but it only took seconds, very little compound and shiny.
The slide, now that's a sheep of a different color, they is HARD. I polished a lot but called it good enough. Maybe half way between stock and Jfootins high polish.
Do what blows your dress up, don't get ulcers, don't worry, be happy and for sure don't ask bawanna now hard questions, gives him a headache.
Kahrmine
07-02-2015, 04:58 PM
Nice job. Thanks for sharing, Purple.
Purple Mountain Outdoors
07-07-2015, 03:01 PM
Nice job. Thanks for sharing, Purple.
Thanks man!
Honestly who gives a **** who knows what? Man polished his barrel it looks good and I guarantee it isn't going to do any damage to the barrel. Leave it at that. Don't like it don't do it. It's a kahr not a custom 1911. Can be replaced for very little coin.
-Adam.
Totally, thanks for watching out.
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