MK9 Front Strap Checkering

[nrccali]

Hello,

Out of everything that I carry, I primarily stick with my Kahr MK9. I have put on Al's G10 Grips from LakelineLLC about a year ago and they are awesome. I am looking to have the front of the grip frame checkered and do not know if anyone has experience with this or not. I heard that Kahr used to checker the MK9s for a fee but have not found any proof on that.

Any recommendations? I am in Northern CA near Lake Tahoe.



Thank you,

Nick

[Bawanna]

I've never heard that Kahr would do it myself, that does not mean it's not true.

I do love front strap checkering myself. There's a fella here that does find front strap checkering but he won't do it for me, I've begged. Maybe if he likes you better, he would do yours? Don't ask his name, I won't share it.

Usually if you have good grips like Al's you don't really benefit with front strap checkering but if you have smooth polished grips or like ivory and such, it's really good.

[Ed M]

This has been discussed here before....

Ever see these? http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Checkered-Frontstrap-Stainless/productinfo/100S/

MidwayUSA has them too:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1070531042/wilson-combat-frontstrap-1911-government-commander-checkered

Somebody cut one of these to fit a Kahr metal framed gun - it's thin enough to cut with shears/scissors. Looked pretty good. Not sure, but I think Bawanna knows about it.

It is held on by the grip panels. No modification to the pistol itself, and can be removed easily. I'm sure Bawanna can pass on his experience with it.....

[kenemoore]

I run skate board tape on mine, works great. Try it before you spend on a checkering job.
I first take off the grips, and run the tape about 1/8" under the grips, that way it never comes loose (so far).

You can see an example in post # 10 of this thread: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?28496-New-to-Me-K9

[nrccali]

Thank you all. I have the LakeLine LLC grip panels on and they fit like a glove with no room for a spare hair. I may try the grip tape, but I kinda want a really clean look. My buddy says to wrap the whole gun up with aluminum ducting tape and shoot it with some heavy grit sand blast media to roughen up the front of the frame.

[Bawanna]

I put one of those Fake checkered panels on mine and it did work. They are super thin. It will fit under your Al's grips.
I too use the skateboard tape but I use the rubbery kind, not the sand paper kind and I don't tuck it under the grip, just stick it to the front strap. Seems to stay on well. Even though I'm not a fan of stick on grip covers so many like this works for me.

Probably better than blasting with gravel size media you could stipple it. I've have very little experience with it but it does work and it's pretty easy to do. The hardest part is building up your nerve to pound on you gun with a hammer and a sharp pointy thing. Just remember it's not rocket science, it doesn't have to be orderly, just random strikes until you get what you want.

[gb6491]

This has been discussed here before....

Ever see these? http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Checkered-Frontstrap-Stainless/productinfo/100S/

MidwayUSA has them too:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1070531042/wilson-combat-frontstrap-1911-government-commander-checkered

Somebody cut one of these to fit a Kahr metal framed gun - it's thin enough to cut with shears/scissors. Looked pretty good. Not sure, but I think Bawanna knows about it.

It is held on by the grip panels. No modification to the pistol itself, and can be removed easily. I'm sure Bawanna can pass on his experience with it.....

Here's the post with the Wilson product on a MK9:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?19437-Front-strap-checkering&p=257045#post257045

Here's a neat installation of the product on an AMT backup (in this case, epoxy is used to secure the checkering):
https://forums.1911forum.com/showpost.php?p=3224745&postcount=1

[gb6491]

I put one of those Fake checkered panels on mine and it did work. They are super thin. It will fit under your Al's grips.
I too use the skateboard tape but I use the rubbery kind, not the sand paper kind and I don't tuck it under the grip, just stick it to the front strap. Seems to stay on well. Even though I'm not a fan of stick on grip covers so many like this works for me.

Probably better than blasting with gravel size media you could stipple it. I've have very little experience with it but it does work and it's pretty easy to do. The hardest part is building up your nerve to pound on you gun with a hammer and a sharp pointy thing. Just remember it's not rocket science, it doesn't have to be orderly, just random strikes until you get what you want.
Darn boss, you made me go find a post from a couple of years ago:

I haven't seen many MKs with the front strap checkered, but here's one:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6558

There have been some K and T pistols posted with checkering:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=144298&postcount=192
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=224276&postcount=1
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=13824
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6557

You do see a few MKs with stippling done:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=181789&postcount=11
http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=7&f=88&t=757774
http://www.tjscustomgunworks.com/Photos4/KahrMK40HighPolished.htm

Here's one that's either lightly stippled or heavily abrasive blasted:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=233672&postcount=9

Tape is an option:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=27092&postcount=2
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=238256&postcount=25

...

Regards,
Greg

[Monadnock]

I bought some 'talon' like grip tape on the amazon, that came in 2x8" strips.. something ridiculous like 8 bucks, maybe 10 but anyway. I have it on my front and back straps on a little NAA Guardian, works great. I put a strip on my K40 front strap. It's a great, cheap alternative with a clean look and great grip performance.

[Scrambler]

If you would like to try some skateboard tape, PM me an address, I'll send some. I've had some on my edc E9 for about 2 years now and it seems to be holding up very well. http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14665&stc=1

[nrccali]

Darn boss, you made me go find a post from a couple of years ago:


Regards,
Greg


Hello Greg,

Thank you very much for pulling in all these past posts. I never thought of driving a punch into the frame of my firearm and stippling it. I will pick up some 416 Stainless bar stock and try stippling it. I am not sure what material grade Kahr uses, but the 416 is fairly hard and easily machinable so its a good guess. This way I can try both medial blasting and Stippling before just driving a punch all over my frame. I'll provide an update after some testing in a few weeks.

Thanks!