Polishing The K9 PICTURES INSIDE

[BirdsThaWord]

Hi all! Long time lurker who just joined. I thought I'd share my current project gun, a K9, that I am fixing up. I am a bit of a nut case in that I like all of my guns a bit on the bbq side, so you can see why the K9 spoke to me (all stainless). The little AMT in the pic is next, then my MK9 (gonna deck it out with the Lakeline stuff), then I just picked up a stainless (investment casting, like the AMT) Bauer .25. I've had a lot of polymer Kahrs over the years, usually polishing the internal marriage points, slide, slide stop and trigger, but this is my first all metal Kahr polish. Obviously, not my first gun I've polished. When I say polished, I mean rediculously mirror/chrome like. I have looked at many "polished" guns over the years that look like mine, about 75% to where I go with them.

By the time the K9 is done, I will prob have 40-50 hours of hand sanding, filing, blocking and polishing into it. I bought the firesights, stainless grip screws (which I will be polishing, of course) and am on the hunt for a set of CT grips for it (Just missed a set on fleabay that sold for $101!!!!). Can't wait to finish this one up. I will update as I go!

[BirdsThaWord]

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q90/924/4YclOP.jpg (http://imageshack.com/f/po4YclOPj)
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q90/923/W7EBhS.jpg (http://imageshack.com/f/pnW7EBhSj)

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q90/924/tD16kU.jpg (http://imageshack.com/f/potD16kUj)

[BirdsThaWord]

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q90/924/NLIn0I.jpg (http://imageshack.com/f/poNLIn0Ij)

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q90/923/4nSFyu.jpg (http://imageshack.com/f/pn4nSFyuj)

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q90/924/H0Idct.jpg (http://imageshack.com/f/poH0Idctj)

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q90/924/YJ5oqL.jpg (http://imageshack.com/f/poYJ5oqLj)

[yqtszhj]

Looks good. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

[BirdsThaWord]

Looks good. I can’t wait to see the finished product.
Thanks for the kind words! You and me both! :cool:

[taroman]

Sounds like you're doing it right.
Polished a few myself.
With that sandblasted Kahr finish, I bet you had to start with 320 grit?
Couldn't view anything except the thumbnails.
Not a member of your hosting site.

[BirdsThaWord]

Sounds like you're doing it right.
Polished a few myself.
With that sandblasted Kahr finish, I bet you had to start with 320 grit?
Couldn't view anything except the thumbnails.
Not a member of your hosting site.
Hey, thanks man. I started in some areas with some cheap 220, to 500, to 1000, to 1200. Onto the polishing with first black, then green compounds. I find many times that I must digress, or go back to a previous, more aggresive paper/compound (depending on thd stage I'm at). You just get an eye for those things once you've done quite a few. But, I think you have to be very commited to do one of these start to finish as you may have hours and hours into an area smaller than an inch. That is both physically demanding while simultaniously demanding mental focus so as to do it all correctly (not messing up uer piece).

[BirdsThaWord]

Made some more progress!
http://i68.tinypic.com/20ksmfm.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/24oarfs.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/1219vty.jpg

[BirdsThaWord]

More progress. First pic shows how much more work I have to go on the slide, when you see how smooth the dust cover is. I still have to get inside the trigger guard as well. All dremel work there
http://i63.tinypic.com/wart52.jpg

http://i65.tinypic.com/2zrnhw0.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/2h3mtky.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/117sodf.jpg

[JohnR]

Metal finger baseplate?

Put some Bawana grips on that an it would belong in an art museum!

[BirdsThaWord]

Metal finger baseplate?

Put some Bawana grips on that an it would belong in an art museum!
Thanks man!
Lol, I was waiting for someone to catch that! I wish it had that pinky rest. I am doing an AMT Backup next, and have always loved the pinky rest on it's magazine. Thought I would stick it in the picture to see if anyone would catch it. You win!!!! :)
Unsure about those grips as I have not heard of them. I will do a search. I am currently waiting though on Lakeline to run their next batch, to put some of their G10's on the little MK. I REALLY want CT grips for the K9, but they are unicorns these days.

[JohnR]

You win!!!! :)
Cool, I'll PM you my FFL's address so you can send me the K9 when it's done. :cool:

I'll save you the search effort: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?5082-Come-Into-Bawanna-s-Famous-Grip-Emporium&highlight=grip+emporium

[Bawanna]

http://bawanna45.wix.com/bawannas-grip-emporium#!

This might be better. So far Photo_ucket hasn't messed with the pictures. Haven't looked at the site in a long time, really should update more often I guess.

[BirdsThaWord]

Cool, I'll PM you my FFL's address so you can send me the K9 when it's done. :cool:

I'll save you the search effort: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?5082-Come-Into-Bawanna-s-Famous-Grip-Emporium&highlight=grip+emporium
Lol!!!:biggrin1::biggrin1::biggrin1:

[BirdsThaWord]

Thanks guys for the grip referal! It said I would have to update my flash player to view that grip site. I will check those out for sure. Pretty set on either CT's or Lakeline's for these two, but I buy 2-3 sets per year for various guns. So, knowing a good grip guy is certainly useful. Thanks again!

[Flieger]

BirdsThaWord,
Amazing job! That must have taken more hours than you imagined before starting the project. It’s now too pretty to shoot, but it’s a looker.

[BirdsThaWord]

BirdsThaWord,
Amazing job! That must have taken more hours than you imagined before starting the project. It’s now too pretty to shoot, but it’s a looker.
Thanks man! Yes, way too many hours. I need to get out into the garage and get it done. Between the heat, humidity and mosquitoes, it takes a bit of motivation. Just the inside of the trigger guard and a few more hours on the slide to go.
I see you are retired Navy. I served on the Independence (CV 62) and Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Were you ever on either one?

[BirdsThaWord]

I was able to get myself to finish the slide and frame. Glad that's over! I hope to assemble it, or at least start to tomorrow. I polished the trigger bar and where it rides against the frame, so hopefully I'll remember to snap some shots of that before gets all put together. I will be shooting the snot out of it, but will treat it with love (range queen).
http://i65.tinypic.com/2n6ujgx.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/i53qtw.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/2cfcufs.jpg

[yqtszhj]

I can’t wait to see it assembled. Awesome polish job.

[BirdsThaWord]

I can’t wait to see it assembled. Awesome polish job.
Thanks! I super can't wait!

[Bawanna]

A lot of work in that. Beautiful.

[BirdsThaWord]

A lot of work in that. Beautiful.
Yes sireee! Thanks for the compliment!

[BirdsThaWord]

Ok, so pretty much done. A few issues... Neither the factory grip screws fit (protrude into the magwell preventing mag insertion) nor do the aftermarket screws (screws to short to reach the frame on the bottom). Too brain fried after getting the trigger back in to even think about that stuff for a while. Second issue is the REALLY poor fitting rear sight (pic attached). Not sure what they were thinking there. Forget if I got those from Kahr or flea bay, but again, thats for another day when my brain isn's smoking (about to crack a coldy over this). Function check is fine. New stainless guide rod in there too. New grips came in for a Kimber, so snuck a shot of it in there too! Lastly, a shot of the trigger bar contact point of the frame. It was difficult getting in there. I polished both sides, so it will also ride smoother against the grips. I have not shot, or pulled the trigger in a while, so I can't tell you if there's any seat of the pants difference in feel, but she feels smooth as buttah!
http://i68.tinypic.com/25rnl36.jpg
http://i64.tinypic.com/2ahv2px.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/2zjci2b.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/vd3ib5.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/2n9dlie.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/9bhlk4.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/smptgp.jpg

[Bawanna]

That rear sight isn't even close to being the right one for that gun.

Every thing else looks marvelous. I've heard installing the trigger and trigger bar are a bit of challenge. Never went there myself. Hopefully will never have to.

Did you try the grip screws out of the Kimber for length, might just work. Not sure what Al uses for screws on his grips.

[BirdsThaWord]

That rear sight isn't even close to being the right one for that gun.
Right! I hope I can find who/where I got it from. Hope they will make it right.

Every thing else looks marvelous. Thank you sir! :) I've heard installing the trigger and trigger bar are a bit of challenge. Never went there myself. Hopefully will never have to. This one and a Bersa Thunder Pro I did once will go down as the toughest. Bersa takes the toughest though as there are zero videos, blogs, etc about anyone taking one all the way down. I had to take a lot of pics and make drawings as I went. Yes, I hope you never have to. The trigger pin requires an arbor press. Absolutely would not budge with hammer and punch. Getting the trigger spring and spacer alligned for reinstallation was the brain fryer. Lol!

Did you try the grip screws out of the Kimber for length, might just work. Not sure what Al uses for screws on his grips. Now that's a great idea. I have a few guns I can try screws off of, as well as a few sets of grips screws in my "extras" box. Thanks for the idea! Once I get the right ones I will be polishing the heads too. (Of course, Lol!)
On a side note, once I complete the little AMT, it's on to the MK9. I already have the LL grips, but waiting on the mag sleeve and floor plate. I want to put a stainless guide rod in it, and new sites as well. I just have to take a break from polishing and spending, or I may be a single guy soon! Lol!

[yqtszhj]

Those grips with that polished pistol just makes the whole project sing. Very nice work.

[Alfonse]

Wow. You do nice work. Thanks for sharing it.

[b4uqzme]

^^^ Beautiful work. FYI - I've filed down grip screws before. It's easy. Just file a little, test and repeat. It's even easier if you have a grinding wheel. Hope that helps.

[BirdsThaWord]

Thanks guys!
b4uqzme, I have considered that. Problem is, the one's that are too long are the flat head, not hex/allen in stainless that I'm wanting on there. I think once I find longer ones, your approach is most likely what I will have to do. Man, can anything be easy with these things?

[Alfonse]

I missed the grip screws thing earlier. The factory grip screws should work fine. They do on both of my K9s with those grips. One pretty easy way to take up some space that has another advantage is taking a small o-ring and putting it under the screws. You have to find a pretty thin one. The additional advantage is it keeps the screws from backing out while shooting too.

[BirdsThaWord]

I missed the grip screws thing earlier. The factory grip screws should work fine. They do on both of my K9s with those grips. One pretty easy way to take up some space that has another advantage is taking a small o-ring and putting it under the screws. You have to find a pretty thin one. The additional advantage is it keeps the screws from backing out while shooting too.
I believe you are correct sir. I realized that I had put the stock screws to the side as Kahr used regular steel, which I can not polish, and had stuck some extra stainless 1911 screws in their place. So, I will get some longer, stainless, hex heads and shorten them up. I do have some of those little orings left from a different set of 1911 grips, so I may need to do as you say. Thanks for the advice!

[BirdsThaWord]

About that rear sight...On Dawson Precision's site they explain that there were 2 different slides available on the K9. Good to know if any of you ever go to replace yours! Apparently I have the old style, so you can see why the ill fitment. I have a dispute going for a refund on the existing sights. If that falls through, I've already ordered the correct sight, so I will donate that rear sight to any forum member who wants it and has the newer slide. We shall see. I will update here if thats what ends up happening.
15555

[linksrds]

your work is awesome, but I prefer the finish on the Mk. I have a MK9 03 elite and was wondering how hard it would be to put that finish on my pistol ???

[BirdsThaWord]

your work is awesome, but I prefer the finish on the Mk. I have a MK9 03 elite and was wondering how hard it would be to put that finish on my pistol ???
I plan to do the same to my MK, once it cools down outside.
As far as difficulty polishing your MK, that would be relevant to your experience, or your pocket ($). I have about a month of nights out in my workshop sanding, filing, stoning and buffing the K9 to get it as you see. If you have not done one prior, I would recommend starting on a cheaper gun, watching youtube how to videos, and doing research on it. Wouldn't want to see you mess up your beautiful MK!
OR... you can pay to have yours done. I have no idea how much a gunsmith would charge to polish one to this level, but I bet it would be North of $300.

[Sgt 127]

I’m not usually a fan of polished stainless. But, that thing looks like a bowl of mercury.

Thats exceptionally well done. I dont see a wave or chatter mark anywhere.

[BirdsThaWord]

Thank you for the kind compliments!