Kahr Sight Installation Service

[AngrySteve]

I've got a few questions about the Kahr Sight Installation Service offered on their website. I tried calling them, but they're only open when I'm at work, and I don't want to spend my whole lunch break waiting on hold to talk to someone, with no guarantee of actually getting through in time.

Anyways, I finally sprung for a set of Dawson Precision sights for my K9, and I want to have them installed by Kahr. According to their website, it's $40 (+$25 for return shipping) but they don't mention if that covers both front and rear, or if it's per sight. Also, it says that I can "place the order for the sights along with the installation," but I already bought them. Do they install other sights that aren't offered on their website? And, last but not least, I was planning on shipping my slide to them via USPS. Has anyone had any problems with that past? Should I go out of my way and pay more to send it via UPS or FedEx instead?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

[b4uqzme]

why not just find a local gunsmith? Probably cheaper and faster and no shipping.

[AngrySteve]

The only place I've found locally charges $60. For $5 more, I'd rather send it to Kahr, especially given how notoriously difficult the old sights are to remove.

[b4uqzme]

Bummer. Going price around here is $30-40 for both. You may want to check with your FFL about shipping. They may be able to ship cheaper. I'm no expert but I think, as long as you don't ship a serial numbered part, USPS insured should be OK. Jocko ships entire "one hole paper punches" all the time.

Probably best to call Kahr and confirm all this. Good luck.

[CJB]

They are only notorious if not removed using the right technique.

Had 'em off three out of four slides. It takes a heavy vice, so the slide and vice do not move. It takes a solid brass tipped punch. And it takes a fairly small hammer. If the slide is solid... they come right out. Using a half assed vice, a light vice, an unsteady bench... ya know... yer asking for it.

My vice weighs about 25lbs, and my bench is bolted together from 2x6's and weighs about 60lbs without the vice. That's solid enough, ymmv

[AngrySteve]

I don't have a vice, nor do I have a place to set one up. I also don't have a brass tipped punch (just steel). Hence why I want to send my slide to Kahr and have them do it, lol.

[CJB]

The implication is.... your local GUNSMITH should. Really, its an easy job. Its one of those "I made out great!" jobs for a smithy.

[AngrySteve]

Like I said, $60 for the local smith vs $65 for Kahr. My mind's made up already, I just have questions about the process, and I was hoping that someone who's done it before might have some answers.

[b4uqzme]

You might find someone who's sent theirs to Kahr. But I suspect most found someone locally.

[b4uqzme]

Off topic: I guess I must be spoiled. We got gunsmiths and gun stores all over the place. Helps keep prices in check. Kind of a curse in a way. If you want something...you most likely will find it. :)

[AngrySteve]

Yeah, there's a few gun stores in my neck of the woods, but only one that I know of that has a smith :/ $60 is pretty damn steep, especially since I don't know if the guy's any good, or if he's even worked on a Kahr before. It's like trying to decide whether to take my car to a local mechanic or bring it to the dealer and pay an arm and a leg, lol.

[muggsy]

Steve, send Kahr Service an email. They should get back to you within 24 hours.

service@kahr.com

[CJB]

Local smithy have it done same day maybe

[Bobshouse]

Get one of these, works great.

http://www.sightpusher.com/Handgun-Sight-Tool.html

[berettabone]

I'm sure you could ask around and get the backround of the local smithy............................I would much rather pay a smith $60, then chance sending it anywhere for $65+ shipping.................

[jocko]

Yeah, there's a few gun stores in my neck of the woods, but only one that I know of that has a smith :/ $60 is pretty damn steep, especially since I don't know if the guy's any good, or if he's even worked on a Kahr before. It's like trying to decide whether to take my car to a local mechanic or bring it to the dealer and pay an arm and a leg, lol.

agree with ur comment. anyone can say they are a smitty. Kahrs can e sometimes ery hard to install sites, even with a pusher. U can just send the slide to kahr thru regular ail for under $8 and get it back in a week or so. if kahr fokks it up, they will stand behind it. for sure with your cell phone take photos of the slide where the sites are at, on all sides to show if needed who ever works on it that it was OK before they fokked it up a good site pusher is needed no doubt.

[AngrySteve]

Just got off the phone with Kahr. The $40 + $25 covers both front and rear installation, but they don't install sights that aren't sold on their website :/ looks like I'm stuck using the local guy. Hopefully he doesn't jack up my slide and/or my new sights...

Thanks for all the help, guys.

[CJB]

Just tell him you're particular about scratches and such.

Its really not a hard job.

A little filing on the bottom of the new sights is a usual thing... so they fit the dovetail well. They're made a little oversize on purpose, to accommodate manufacturing tolerances on dovetails. You file 'em just a wee bit, till they start in the dovetail, then knock em in.

[knkali]

If you are in Nor Cal, I got a pusher(expensive) you can use if you want to do it yourself.

[CJB]

If you're in Florida... c'mon over, and its a freebie!

[jocko]

Just tell him you're particular about scratches and such.

Its really not a hard job.

A little filing on the bottom of the new sights is a usual thing... so they fit the dovetail well. They're made a little oversize on purpose, to accommodate manufacturing tolerances on dovetails. You file 'em just a wee bit, till they start in the dovetail, then knock em in.


I have had better luck just sliding the base of the sights over some nice medium sandpaper, over the use of a file as then for me anyways it keeps everything straight. Its not rocket science like u stated..