New K9 Elite + Range Report

[shlike]

As I mentioned in another thread, I purchased this K9 Elite as a blem from Bud's. I picked it up yesterday from my FFL. Neither he nor I could find a single blemish on the gun, nor was the trigger guard stamped with a "B" as is Kahr's practice with blemished guns. So basically I got what I consider to be a new, unblemished K9 Elite for $563.00 + $20.00 FFL fee, so I am all-in for $583.00. This was a great deal, IMHO. The gun comes with 2 7-round mags and 1 8-round extended mag. I love the heft and feel of the steel K9 as opposed to my CW9. It fits my hand perfectly. Aesthetics are important to me, and this is a beautiful gun (not quite as beautiful as my S&W 1911 SC-e, but close). This gun is screaming out for the checkered wood grips that Kahr offers, so I will be ordering those next week, although the hard rubber grips that came on the gun feel really good in-hand.

This morning I took it to the range. This gun is a fantastic shooter!! I ran 150 rounds through it, a combination of Freedom Munitions 124gr. FMJ range fodder, Gold Dot 124gr.+P JHP, and Hornady Critical Duty 135gr. +P JHP (which is my main carry ammo). First of all, although this first 150 rounds is within the Kahr- required 200-rd. "break-in period", I did not experience a single malfunction; the gun ran flawlessly. Second, this gun is dead-nuts accurate! The targets pictured in the photo are the very first rounds out of the gun at 7 yds. The trigger is typical Kahr: butter-smooth like a finely tuned DA revolver. There is very little felt recoil even with +P ammo, due to the extra weight of the steel frame. The gun is beautifully balanced.

I am extremely pleased with this addition to my collection. This gun is a keeper!!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/k94_zpsnqqeyxea.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/k91_zpsbqgipaqx.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/k93_zpsolrjukqu.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/k92_zps3vrgc3ly.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/K95_zps5vdgl1kq.jpg

[jreXD9]

Beautiful gun. Looks like a slightly larger version of the MK9 that I stupidly traded away a few years ago. Sure would like to have that one back.

[Bobshouse]

I only see about 8 holes on that target. ;) Beautiful gun, I'd love to order one, but I'd probably get the one that was triple blemished.

[gb6491]

Nice gun.
Nice shooting.
Nice photos.
Nice report.
Thanks for sharing and have a nice day :)
Regards,
Greg

[Alfonse]

Looks great! I don't see anyplace "marked with a B" either.

[Brian G]

Curious... how do you like the finish on the Elite?

[ripley16]

Very nice. Great buy, even if it was a blemished pistol, but especially if not. Enjoy.

[shlike]

Curious... how do you like the finish on the Elite?

I really like the highly polished slide which contrasts with the matt finish on the frame. It makes for a really refined and interesting total appearance, IMHO.

[shlike]

Very nice. Great buy, even if it was a blemished pistol, but especially if not. Enjoy.

(I am the OP) Thanks! As I mentioned in my OP, neither I or my FFL could find any blemish, nor could I find any marking at all, inside or out, that identifies it as a "Blem", so I guess I lucked out.

As an update, I am really enjoying this gun. It is dead-nuts accurate, very refined, and a pleasure to hold and look at. I am not using it much, however, for CCW, as I find it to be a little too heavy for that. For about the same, or less weight, I can carry my S&W 1911 SC-e, or my Glock 19, and they conceal almost as well. If I want to carry something small, about the same size as my K9, I usually carry my Shield 9 Performance Center, which gives me the same capacity, but is considerably lighter. All that being said, the K9 is a great range toy, conversation piece, and gives me great pride of ownership, as aesthetics and refinement are important to me. If I have one criticism of the gun, it is that the slide-to-frame fit is a little loose, especially without a round chambered. With a round chambered, most of the "wiggle" goes away.

Shortly after I purchased the gun, I ordered a set of the Kahr checkered wood grips, because I think they really enhance the beauty of the gun. That said, from a purely functional or "feel" standpoint, the OEM polymer grips are probably better.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/K9%20Wood%20Grips%206_zpsc2t73mln.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/K9%20Wood%20Grips%205_zpsot6nwz7u.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/K9%20Wood%20Grips%204_zpscoqx9rlc.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/K9%20Wood%20Grips%203_zps4mwc5hmb.jpg

When I installed the wood grips, there was a fairly substantial gap in the back where the grips come together, which I didn't care for:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/K9%20Wood%20Grips%202_zps2czundtz.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/K9%20Wood%20Grips%201_zpsn83vvwgc.jpg

Not having the tools nor the mechanical ability (or patience) to try to correct the gap myself, I contacted Bawana, who agreed to have a look. He worked his magic and returned the grips to me. The gap now is much smaller and more uniform, and I am very pleased with the result:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/K9%20Grip%20Gap%20After_zpsyffofmmg.jpg

So I would like to give a big shout out, and publicly thank Bawana for generously agreeing to help me out, and for an excellent result!!

[ripley16]

Way to go Bawana ... You're the Man!! :yo:

[berettabone]

Nice looking firearms they are............................................... .....................

[Brian G]

Looks fantastic.

[jocko]

he has talent, glad to see he didn't throws in his famous Pink grip finish. It is rare if you have one, and I sold my pair to a p;imp about a year ago, bnad bopuight a new Porsche with it, that just how rare and valuable a pink set of grips from Bawanna is. If ayone on this forum gets a pair of pink grips from bawanna, get ahold of my and my pimp friend siad he has a buyer for them. I think it s a status symbol. Just sayin