Please help me identify my new to me T9

[pk1313]

https://i.postimg.cc/4yKbsZQ4/KAHRT9A.jpg

OK - I've been hunting for a T9 for years. I'm a long time KAHR enthusiast - It all started with the P9 Covert. I bought it when they first came out, not even knowing what it really was, and that's when the madness started LOL!!! I can post my collection later if you guys would like to see - about a dozen or so I've kept. Anyways - this is the T9 I just won off GB, date code says 2003. I believe it is all factory original but I can not find anywhere that the T9 was made in Diamond Black DLC. Does anybody have any info on this. Thank you.


https://i.postimg.cc/bw00zmkn/KAHRT9b.jpghttps://postimg.cc/RJBnLkY2https://postimg.cc/MnTf5bsZ

[dao]

Best thing to do would be to call Kahr tech support. They are very helpful and especially like to hear from Kahr enthusiasts. Last time I called I got the born on dates for several of my own. If you like to collect you need to find an Elite 2000. They have a black Robar finish on them, and there were only 89 made.

Oh, and congrats on winning that auction. I was watching it closely myself.

[pk1313]

Does the serial number mean this was the 450th production KAHR T9 ?

[Bawanna]

I have never heard of a DLC T9. T9's are kind of rare birds anyhow but a DLC has to be right up there with chicken lips.

[yqtszhj]

Dang, that’s a beautiful T9

[ripley16]

I would say that a previous owner refinished this T9 as I don't think Kahr made the T9 in a black finish. What do you mean by a "date code"? The serial number??

Beautiful gun. Congrats. I think I like the black better than the stainless.

What sights does it have?

[pk1313]

I believe these are the original Novak Tritium night sights. Do you know if the dovetail is the same as the Old Style dovetail cut for all the old style sights - I ordered a bunch of Front/Rear Night Sight Trijicon sets when KAHR had them on sale for $15/$22 - just so I had spares when they no longer existed - LOL! And yes by date code I meant the production date from the serial number - I'm showing around September of 2003. I was just wondering if the serial number corresponded with the actual production number on the pistol. I'll call KAHR on Monday and see if I can get any info - I'll update when I do.

https://i.postimg.cc/DwVXvKRs/T9top.jpg

[dao]

If you call Kahr and they tell you it was made after Nov. 2004 then it almost certainly has the new dovetails. And they could probably verify or correct that info as well. They would probably also be able to tell you whether or not the finish is original. Could be that they original owner even sent it back to them to have it finished in black. They'll know best at this point. It is a good looking gun and fine example of a T9, congrats!

edit: Oh, and they might even have a box for it that they could sell you.

[pk1313]

If it does have the new dovetails, would it be sacrilegious to put a Meprolight FT Bullseye on top? I was planning a " guttersnipe " slide cut to embed the Meprolight FT Bullseye on one of my P9 uppers , but I would NEVER cut this T9 slide -- THAT I know would be sacrilege - LOL!!! I might have a machine shop cut a " U " channel right down the middle of the slide on this P9 Covert and leave the sight off and still have the option of pushing sights back on if I wanted. If I start my search now for a spare T9 slide, maybe I'll find one in 5 or 10 years, LOL!!

https://i.postimg.cc/brj5CRpQ/FT1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/VvYR0ZzH/FT2.jpg

[dao]

Sacrilege? No. But it could either help or hurt resale value. You got a pretty darn good deal on the gun so you're not into for that much now. And if you intend to keep it for a good long time, resale isn't as much of a consideration. Make the gun work best for you.

You got a really good deal on those night sights from Kahr btw. Were they all for the old style dovetail?

[pk1313]

Thanks - this one a keeper - that's my problem they are all KEEPERS!!! LOL !!! Just kidding - I keep the rare, one offs, discontinued or customs - I'll post my KAHR gun porn on another thread. This T9 is going to get passed down for generations is my hope. Keep your eye on the KAHR website - every now and then they just blow out all their sights for like 50% off - I ordered about $200 - $300 of sights both old and new style. I may offer sight replacement services for members of the forum here if people want - had a alot of down time at work since this whole pandemic thing started and ordered a Wheeler Sight Pusher and started hobby gunsmith tinkering. I'm a USPSA/IDPA competitor and was already having to tinker with my competition guns. I guess I should ask if anybody has tried the CARBO springs in their KAHR's?

[dao]

I too have a Wheeler and do my own sights. I might be interested in a set of the old dovetail style sights for my blunt-nose PM9 if you'd be willing to part with a set.

[pk1313]

FYI - Kahr Shop . com has both old and new style Trijicon front sights on sale for $15 through Cyber Monday . $87 for the new style SET of TRUGLO FIO Night sights

[dao]

Found them, thank you!

[ripley16]

Kahr put a dimple on the inside bottom of the slide when they went to the new sight cut. That's the easy way to tell which sights fit which gun.

[pk1313]

OK, the mystery deepens KAHR customer service told me the production date on this T9 was March 2003, they could not tell me if it left the factory Black Diamond DLC but they did say that it has never been back to KAHR once it shipped out. I own many factory Black Diamond DLC KAHR's - and this one looks like a factory job not aftermarket or done by anyone else. Also this appears to have been never fired, the original magazine has never been loaded. The girl at KAHR said she is going to try and get some more info for me on this and will email me. She did tell me it was coded KT9 and from what I know the original owner was NYPD Captain, Chief, Big Wig , etc.

https://i.postimg.cc/WbxmZ4QK/T91.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/GtdhB6R9/T94.jpg

[dao]

It sure looks good. It's a shame you don't have the box. But given the condition I'd be happy with it anyway. Might be an idea to search for other boxes in the same serial number range to see what their labels say. With or without the mystery, you got a bargain there. If you have any contacts in the NYPD, or know someone who does you might ask for help. Big force I know but there's not all that many Captains.
So, you going to try the old dovetail sights? Or at least push those out and compare em to both types before deciding?

[Bawanna]

Beautiful wood on those grips.

[BirdsThaWord]

Beautiful wood on those grips.
Ditto!

[pk1313]

Thanks - I was not expecting an unfired gun or one that was basically factory new. As expected, the Factory NOVAK's are dead. Even though DLC is suppose to be scratchproof, I've had DLC guns I've had to "fix" with a black sharpie - I'm tempted to push out the factory Novak's and replace them with a new set but I know from experience I won't be able to just "push" them out - it's gonna take a considerable whacking with a hammer and punch set to get those out. I DO NOT want to mess up the finish and maybe have the matte stainless showing in the dovetails. I know I'll never need the night sights, this won't be my carry gun - I have a P45 Black Diamond DLC for that. I saw a pic of a K9 Black Diamond DLC with the same wood grips - that's gonna be my next search - LOL!!! Anybody with a Black Diamond DLC K9 looking for a sweet sweet Matte Stainless Steel K9 for trade ????

[dao]

PK, I have mostly heard that Kahr sights are extremely tight. And they may well be. And so on one of my Elites I was very hesitant to change out the sights until one day I got up the gumption to give them a whirl with my Wheeler. This after having had replacement sights for six months or so beforehand. I was so surprised at how easily they slid out, front and rear. Now granted I had sent the Elite back to the factory right after I bought it new in early '03 to have some finishing blems fixed and to have the bar dots replaced with night sights. So it could be that whoever there who did the sight switch filed the new ones enough that they were no "factory tight" (though they never drifted on all those years), and if so that could account for the relative ease with which they did come out for me. It's the only set of Kahrs I've ever attempted so the jury is still out on the force required (at least for me). But point is that with a good tool, like the Wheeler and proper care during the process it is generally a mar-free scenario. I use stips cut from those thin camping cutting boards to put in between my slides and the tool's bumpers to avoid bad things happening. I've replaced a good number of sights on several brands with no issues with this tool. And after so many years of living with dead sights on that otherwise beautiful example of a Kahr I now have a functioning set of good sights on it.

[pk1313]

yes - somebody did you a favor at the KAHR factory because these factory sights are TIGHT. This happens when you " push, push, push!!!" Had to whack out the stuck piece in the front dovetail with a punch and then the rear sight was stuck about halfway off and would not move at all and the rest was done with a whole lot of whacking !!!! I've actually kept the slide bare on my P9 Covert ( snag free and smooth ) - I mainly carry my P45 and the P9 Covert is a 2nd back up. I'm not sure if I'm going to push some night sights back on or maybe machine a " U " down the top of the slide.
https://i.postimg.cc/5y8JHXgd/s1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/nzYTCZmS/s2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fb7YvCbJ/s4.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/hv0SyJd8/P9COVERT.jpg

[dao]

I may have understated the process. Mine did not just slide out without work. When using the Wheeler on tough sights it sometimes reaches a point where it feels as if it has bound up. When this happens it helps to tap the shoe side of the tool lightly with a small hammer to free up the sight. This is what I had to do with the Kahr's sights. After a few taps the sights broke free and came out without much trouble. The hammer I use is a gunsmith hammer with brass head on one side and nylon on the other. I use the brass side. It doesn't take much of a tap, or three. When the sight breaks free you'll know. I have yet to encounter any sights that I could not push with it.

[pk1313]

I was browsing spare parts, pieces, springs etc. for my new T9 on KAHR SHOP and found this under SLIDE ASSEMBLY PARTS - not sure its been posted anywhere here yet - but KAHR has a 4.5" Threaded available for their pistols - I'm pretty sure there are a few of us here that would love a 4.5" barrel for their Kahr's.

Factory Kahr Arms Barrel, 9mm, extended &amp threaded in 1/2-28, includes thread protector. Match-grade barrel has a threaded muzzle to enable mounting of a compensator or suppressor. Fits Kahr TP/CT9/CW/P/S/ST9 only. Thread-1/2-28 Thread Length-.445 Barrel Length-4.5 inches Polygonal Riffling May Require Minor Fitting

https://i.postimg.cc/bvK5mbyV/4-5barrel.jpg
It's $160

[dao]

Cool for those who would. I'd still like to see a K45 :)

[ripley16]

I was browsing spare parts, pieces, springs etc. for my new T9 on KAHR SHOP and found this under SLIDE ASSEMBLY PARTS - not sure its been posted anywhere here yet - but KAHR has a 4.5" Threaded available for their pistols - I'm pretty sure there are a few of us here that would love a 4.5" barrel for their Kahr's.

[COLOR=#4F4F4F][FONT=Karla]Factory Kahr Arms Barrel, 9mm, extended & threaded in 1/2-28, includes thread protector. Match-grade barrel has a threaded muzzle to enable mounting of a compensator or suppressor. Fits Kahr TP/CT9/CW/P/S/ST9 only. Thread-1/2-28 Thread Length-.445 Barrel Length-4.5 inches Polygonal Riffling May Require Minor Fitting


Looks like this barrel only fits polymer models.

[kenemoore]

Cool for those who would. I'd still like to see a K45 :)
What he said.

[pk1313]

OK - got some more info today. Spoke to Mark at the KAHR Arms (he was very helpful), he told me the gun was manufactured 02/20/2003 and then on 03/12/2003 it was sent to Bodycote Thermal Processing in Laconia NH and from there it went to a distributor. He could not tell me if KAHR was doing their Black Diamond DLC in house back in 2003 - he did say often Shot Show specials or prototypes were often done this way. Nevertheless, this thing looks factory - it's almost too pretty to shoot. I've taken it apart, cleaned and lubed it and worked the slide 200-300 times. I have yet to take a dremel to polish anything yet and I SO want to bevel the magwell but it'll show stainless if I do.

[BirdsThaWord]

Pretty cool that they got back with you and let you know. Sounds like it is a bit special!

[ripley16]

Interesting provenance. Looks like a keeper.

[dao]

She's a keeper alright!

[pk1313]

Finally got to the range with the T9 and all its siblings - it's NICE !!! Just need to work the trigger pull down !!!! Yup - had to take off my long sleeve shirt - starting to sweat at 74 degrees !!! https://i.postimg.cc/VNkbHvzz/KAHRS.png

[dao]

You know, each time you post I kick myself for not trying for your T9. You've done well. Nice group!

[pk1313]

Thanks! Have you noticed the pages and pages of KAHR's on gunbroker? There use to be hardly any, lots of value line Kahr's - do you think people finally found out about polymer single stacks after 20 years ??? It took Glock and Springfield to bring them mainstream - LOL !

[dao]

Yeah, there are a bunch. I'm in the market for a K9 right now, hopefully in black. Can't find a new one in black and I really don't want to pay $1K for a new stainless either. The search continues...

[sorcerer]

Scheels Eden Prairie Minnesota has a used stainless K9 with wood grips for $599.89. Running its serial # against our born date here it’s about a 1997 build. Sides of the slide have been polished. Boar looks good, shows little to no wear on the barrel hood. It’s been there sense before Christmas. I’m trying not to buy it. Can’t justify a second K9 when I’m still hunting for a T9. So far I’ve restrained myself from asking how much to clear it off their books.