K9 Carbon Steel, relatively early... Refinish or no?

[SIGWolf]

Would it be a travesty to refinish an early K9 carbon steel pistol? I’m really on the fence. All the wear is honest wear. One the one hand, it just has the look of an old workhorse, on the other, black refinish would look good I think. The finish really isn't that bad.


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[gb6491]

I intend to refinish mine, but have quite a few projects ahead of it:smash:
Regards,
Greg

[lantern]

NP3 plus would be dead sexy on that badboy.

[Bawanna]

Doesn't look bad at all to me. Hardly even any honest wear.

Bottom line is it's your gun and you have to follow your heart or your gut or whatever it is you usually follow. I do feel your pain, tough choice.

I could ask my wife but I'm sure she'd give her opinion weather you want it or not. Maybe that's the solution, you got a wife? Ask her.

[Bawanna]

Hang onto those grips for sure. Those are the early rubber ones, not to be found much anymore. Don't get any better. They feel good.

[SIGWolf]

Hang onto those grips for sure. Those are the early rubber ones, not to be found much anymore. Don't get any better. They feel good.

Good to know. How have they changed?

[Bawanna]

The new ones are more like polymer, more plastic feeling and they don't give.
I'm pretty sure Hogue made those early ones and I have no idea why they switched. They are far superior to the newer ones.

I'm a wood guy but while I can match the shape and size, I can't match the feel.

[yqtszhj]

NP3 plus would be dead sexy on that badboy.

That would look good.

[BirdsThaWord]

I would put on some Lakeline grips and new sights and call it a day. Or, rock on as is. I like it!

[Wlfman13]

I love it the way it is. However, whatever you decide, it’ll still be a great gun.

I can’t disagree with Bawanna, nor can I disagree with lantern. Both opinions are equally correct, IMO.

The good thing is that whatever you decide, you will be right.

-Wlf

[Bawanna]

I read that 3 times, I think you might be good in politics. Everybody is happy and you can't do wrong whatever you do, if you decide to do or not.

Me heads a spinnin.

[SIGWolf]

Thanks for the all the replies. I'll have to mull this over.

[ripley16]

It looks good to me. Held up very well. Some early K9s had the "Black T" finish, others were a matte flat black. I'd keep one with the slick Black T finish.

[SIGWolf]

Considering it's age, the finish is in very good shape, it's just a dull bluing I suppose. Anyone know what sort of finish it is on the early carbon steel guns?

[Bawanna]

I'd say Ripley nailed it. It's probably the Black T finish. Still available today. Coworker just had one done.

[gb6491]

I would put on some Lakeline grips and new sights and call it a day. Or, rock on as is. I like it!
To my knowledge, Lakeline's grips would need some modification to work on an early production K9.
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Good point as usual Greg, missed it again but I believe your right.

[CPTKILLER]

It is yours and it depends on your plans in the future. If it is in your carry rotation and is used, you might refinish it. If it is a safe queen and a collector's piece, leave it as is.

[Cokeman]

I’d let it get worse before considering that. I think it looks good.

[BirdsThaWord]

To my knowledge, Lakeline's grips would need some modification to work on an early production K9.
Regards,
Greg
Given what a hard time I had getting the sights for my early model K9, I think it may be considered early production, but maybe not. I did not have to modify the Lakelines to fit, but do remember reading about others having to do something to that effect in a post on here. I think that if anyone would know, it would be you! Mr Encyclopedia of all things Kahr (said with respect).

[MMyers1970]

It's fine the way it is----but IF you want to refinish it, NP3 is the way to go. It's durable, self-lubricating, and looks excellent.

[Wlfman13]

I read that 3 times, I think you might be good in politics. Everybody is happy and you can't do wrong whatever you do, if you decide to do or not.

Me heads a spinnin.

Bawanna, I FINALLY have the time to provide a much-needed response. While I think I would be the worst politician ever, since my opinions don’t normally walk down the center of the road, my opinion sure did walk down the center with regard to THIS gun. While I agree with lantern that NP3 would look sexy on the gun, a quick visit to the Robar price list set me straight.

I’m not a fan of having to worry about rust. So, on the surface, I am not the target-customer for a carbon steel K9. And, that would seem to make me the perfect customer for NP3. $400? When a T9 can be bought for $663 at grabagun.com, and a PM40 can be purchased for $276 on the same website? Nope. No NP3 for me. If I had $400 for a coating, I’d buy a new gun.

Would I want a carbon steel K9, and keep it that way? You’d better believe it. I’d carry it, and shoot it with pride, and clean and oil it way more than I do my stainless guns. I would also take pride in any holster/carry wear the gun experienced.

Rubber grips? If I were going to carry it, the rubber grips could/would get me killed when/if my cover garment hangs on/sticks to the rubber grip when I attempt to unholster the gun.

For the reasons listed above, I would forego the NP3, sell the rubber grips, purchase a set of G10 grips from Lakeline, and an IWB Holster from Crossbreed Holsters or Wright Leather Works or Garrett Holsters, and giggle like a school-girl every morning I had the opportunity to carry that gun.

-Wlf

[Bawanna]

Well thanks immensely for that Wlfman. My head hasn't spun so long like that since the time in my youth when I lost the lid on a bottle of Annie Greensprings. Bad stuff that. I think it was supposed to be wine but might have been toilet bowl cleaner. Haven't touched the grapes since.

Your post makes perfect sense now, I misjudged you this time. You'd be a lousy politician, too much common sense.

I too would have no issue with a carbon gun. Honest wear is a cool thing.

I do love the feel of the rubber grips, I'd probably figure something out for that although the Lakelines are really nice.
But then I'm a wood and stag guy. We need to invent G10 that looks like stag. Have to hire people to count our money for sure.

[gb6491]

Perhaps they would perform differently in another clime or place, but the rubber grips on my K9 are not clingy. I believe checkered wood grips would likely cause presentation problems before they would. It's a moot point for me anyway as the Lakeline grips have a boss/projection at the top screw and my K9 has no corresponding pocket in it's frame (I'm not sure if grinding that boss off would leave enough material to secure the grip to the frame). There were some wood grips that would fit mine, but you rarely see them for sale and I don't like their thickness. On a positive note, I did find a like new set of the rubber grips recently and they are in parts stash as I type this :).
Nylon on the MK9, rubber on the K9
http://i67.tinypic.com/2cwtl6u.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[linksrds]

Kahr can refinish in black oxide. Cost is $120 plus shipping both ways. Personally i like it the way it looks