View Full Version : First Kahr MK9!
btrochtenberg
10-04-2017, 09:25 AM
Hey everyone!
So, I recently got my first MK9 (part of a trade on ArmsList) and it is one heck of a gun! I took possession of it with wood grips already installed and night sights on, as well. Everything looked spotless until I noticed ONE little dent/mark right on the front of the mag well right where your pinky lands (viewable from the front of the gun, but minor). The mark is maybe 2mm deep (just deep enough to feel it with a fingernail) and about 1cm wide. It could be from hitting a metal edge at a range, or even a pinky ring for all I know.
My question is, with this being such a well made gun, do I worry about getting the mark fixed? Or do I live with it and figure it was bound to happen sometime? If I get it fixed, can I do it myself?
I plan on carrying this gun and will carry it regularly, and if my Glocks tell me anything about carry-wear my Kahr will be full of marks in a years time, so does this mark even matter? It just bothers me getting something in "like-new" condition and then seeing a mark that I missed when I looked it over when making the trade, especially since it's not a mark I made.
Let me know what everyone thinks! I will post a picture when I am off from work to clarify where the mark is and what it looks like.
tony k
10-04-2017, 10:15 AM
I'd probably just touch it up with a stone to minimize it. Just enough that you can't feel it while shootingl
Have you shot it yet? Sounds sweet.
btrochtenberg
10-04-2017, 11:36 AM
I'd probably just touch it up with a stone to minimize it. Just enough that you can't feel it while shootingl
Have you shot it yet? Sounds sweet.
Okay, sounds good. Any specific stone? I was thinking of using some automotive sandpaper, since it’s so soft on metal, but got nervous.
And no, haven’t shot it yet! Picked it up last night.
Thanks for the info!
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berettabone
10-04-2017, 12:33 PM
Shoot it, enjoy it, as it will as stated receive many marks in the future. As the owner of an MK myself, you made a good decision on a firearm. Don't let a tiny mark ruin your day. I use a Pachmayr grip sleeve, so it wouldn't bother me. I have used Armslist on more than one occasion and have no complaints besides the usual fools that ruin it for others, but you do take a chance, especially if your trade was sight unseen. This is also another reason to really look over a firearm before taking possession.
btrochtenberg
10-04-2017, 01:07 PM
Shoot it, enjoy it, as it will as stated receive many marks in the future. As the owner of an MK myself, you made a good decision on a firearm. Don't let a tiny mark ruin your day. I use a Pachmayr grip sleeve, so it wouldn't bother me. I have used Armslist on more than one occasion and have no complaints besides the usual fools that ruin it for others, but you do take a chance, especially if your trade was sight unseen. This is also another reason to really look over a firearm before taking possession.
Thank you for your insight on this situation! I’m just weird about certain marks, but yes, you are very right! This is a good lesson in REALLY looking firearms over instead of getting lost in the excitement.
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Bawanna
10-04-2017, 01:55 PM
I'm waiting for pictures myself. Often times a little bead blasting will fix things right up nicely. Greg has done this several times although he's more gifted than most.
That's also the beauty of the MK over any Tupperware. You can fix it up like new.
To me there's no excuse for carrying an ugly gun. Some like it as a sign of manhood or being an operator or something but I see it as just a case of abuse and neglect.
Of course Tupperware doesn't show scratches and dings quite as readily but if they do it's much more difficult to restore, not impossible, but more challenging.
In the immortal words of ol Jocko (he's still alive) shoot it like you stole it.
gb6491
10-04-2017, 02:17 PM
Hey everyone!
So, I recently got my first MK9 (part of a trade on ArmsList) and it is one heck of a gun! I took possession of it with wood grips already installed and night sights on, as well. Everything looked spotless until I noticed ONE little dent/mark right on the front of the mag well right where your pinky lands (viewable from the front of the gun, but minor). The mark is maybe 2mm deep (just deep enough to feel it with a fingernail) and about 1cm wide. It could be from hitting a metal edge at a range, or even a pinky ring for all I know.
My question is, with this being such a well made gun, do I worry about getting the mark fixed? Or do I live with it and figure it was bound to happen sometime? If I get it fixed, can I do it myself?
I plan on carrying this gun and will carry it regularly, and if my Glocks tell me anything about carry-wear my Kahr will be full of marks in a years time, so does this mark even matter? It just bothers me getting something in "like-new" condition and then seeing a mark that I missed when I looked it over when making the trade, especially since it's not a mark I made.
Let me know what everyone thinks! I will post a picture when I am off from work to clarify where the mark is and what it looks like.
Welcome to the forums and congrats on the MK9 :)
I'd like to see a photo of the mark on it, before giving advice in regards to it.
I do have some thoughts about cosmetic repairs in general:
If it bothers me I'll general repair it.
That said, sometimes it's best to leave things alone. I'm just coming to grips with that.... a little bit.
Bead blasted stainless:
I find it's the easiest to get pleasing results on, but I'm of the opinion that unless you have access to an abrasive/bead blaster and glass bead, it will be difficult to blend any repair to the existing finish on the rest of the project.
Even with a blaster you might have trouble getting an exact match. In those cases I just blast everything
I've had almost OK results mimicking the results from a blaster by holding various grade of sandpaper above the repaired area and tapping the paper against the surface with a tool.
I've tried blending in the repair with steel wool/scotchbrite pad/etc. I've not been satisfied with the results unless it was on an area that I could isolate that finish on and it looked good in comparison to the rest of the project.
Removing a dent/gouge should be done with a rigid tool or sand paper with a backing block. This results in the repaired area being larger than the damaged area. If you don't do it this way, the results are usually a noticeable dip/divot /low spot.
Some dents/gouges have material above the surface of the material they are in, this material can be knocked down with a file/hone/stone or rigid backed sand paper. This quite often makes a dent/gouge less noticeable once the area is refinished.
Personally, I leave that material intact as I've had good luck repairing small dents/gouges with a hammer. I lightly peen the area, moving material to fill the fill/cover the damage. Afterwards, this might require a little dressing with a stone/file/sand paper/hone, but I find it is less intrusive than removing material to remove the dent/gouge.
Here's a repair I did on my MK9:
http://i63.tinypic.com/eas4t3.jpg
Regards,
Greg
Edit: thanks for the plug Bawanna :)
CPTKILLER
10-04-2017, 02:20 PM
If it is reliable and accurate like mine, just enjoy it.
O'Dell
10-04-2017, 03:11 PM
Congrats, they are great pistols. I have an MK40N built in 2008 that I bought NIB in 2011. They are amazingly accurate for such a small gun. I carry mine a lot if my clothing can support the weight. If not, it's the PM9 or CM45.
btrochtenberg
10-04-2017, 07:24 PM
Hey everyone! Thanks for all the wonderful replies today and welcoming me as a new member to the forums.
Here is a picture of the ding in question! Thank you for everyone’s patience, I just got home from work. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171005/64a37cf5a9ee6dae6b04eeb082220a5d.heic
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Bawanna
10-04-2017, 07:43 PM
Aww man, that's bad! Take a hundred bucks for it?
Ok, Ok, bet not. If it were mine, I'd break out my fine file and just smooth that out, maybe do the same on the other side so it matches.
Lots of metal there, won't hurt anything, no worries.. must have got dropped, almost looks like hacksaw teeth marks or a course file or something.
100 bucks stands and I'll go up a bit is one of these other rascals tried to undercut me....
Whats the serial number prefix out of curiosity. Wondering if it's an early model or late. I might go 150 if it's late, naw, 125.
btrochtenberg
10-04-2017, 07:48 PM
Aww man, that's bad! Take a hundred bucks for it?
Ok, Ok, bet not. If it were mine, I'd break out my fine file and just smooth that out, maybe do the same on the other side so it matches.
Lots of metal there, won't hurt anything, no worries.. must have got dropped, almost looks like hacksaw teeth marks or a course file or something.
100 bucks stands and I'll go up a bit is one of these other rascals tried to undercut me....
Haha aww man, don’t make me feel worse about it!! [emoji23]
All kidding aside, it’s a LOT smaller than the photo makes it appear, I tried to magnify the image so you guys/gals could get a better view.
I don’t have a file, but some sandpaper for sheet metal and auto body work, think that’ll do the trick?
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Bawanna
10-04-2017, 11:07 PM
That is bad but it is a newer model, I'd go 130 bucks including shipping.
You should edit that and remove or cover the serial number. Not a good idea to share that.
btrochtenberg
10-04-2017, 11:12 PM
That is bad but it is a newer model, I'd go 130 bucks including shipping.
You should edit that and remove or cover the serial number. Not a good idea to share that.
Thanks for the heads up, I removed the photo!
I wouldn’t sell it though!! Lol I LOVE the gun. I’d rather pay to get it either repaired, or live with it knowing it will be my daily carry until I decide to get something different in the far future.
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Bawanna
10-04-2017, 11:15 PM
Sheesh, scared me. You didn't show being on line. I tried to copy the picture and block it out. Couldn't open it, never heard of a heic file???
Anyhow I come back and it's gone, what did I do!!!!!!
You can just take it to paint or someplace and white it out and repost it. I wish I knew how to do arrows and pictures and stuff like Greg does.
I'm just a displaced Missouri dirt farmer way behind in the technology department.
btrochtenberg
10-04-2017, 11:38 PM
Sheesh, scared me. You didn't show being on line. I tried to copy the picture and block it out. Couldn't open it, never heard of a heic file???
Anyhow I come back and it's gone, what did I do!!!!!!
You can just take it to paint or someplace and white it out and repost it. I wish I knew how to do arrows and pictures and stuff like Greg does.
I'm just a displaced Missouri dirt farmer way behind in the technology department.
I didn’t even think twice about the serial number! So I really appreciate the heads up to someone new on the forums, like myself.
I’ll repost another photo once I get a chance to edit the serial number out of it and go from there.
Thanks for your help on this topic! I couldn’t tell if the mark was even worth freaking out about or not, and seems like it is. Oh well, looks like I have some thinking to do regarding the mark!
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Bawanna
10-05-2017, 09:50 AM
I usually just stick a little piece of painters tape over the serial when I take a picture. (if I remember that is). Some far more talented than I blot it out on the crystal ball somehow. Again it's pretty dark in my harbor at night, not the brightest light and all.
tony k
10-05-2017, 10:13 AM
Hmmm. I can see how doing something about that might give you pause. If you knock it down it won't match the contour of the rest of the area.
Me? I'd slowly go after it with fine Emory cloth. Just enough to knock down the roughness.
Either way, it wouldn't get in the way of me enjoying an otherwise beautiful pistol.
bobandmikako
10-06-2017, 05:40 AM
Unless I had purchased it brand new, that little ding wouldn't bother me. If it felt rough when shooting, I'd probably smooth it out a bit just for the feel, but if it was only visual, I doubt I'd bother. My MK9 also has wood grips and it's a great looking pistol, but in the end, it's just a tool for shooting.
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