My new CW9 Covert

[cav_scout_tj]

I had been wanting to get a Kahr for years. I got glocks (19,23,26,35), and I got a little P3AT in a great pocket rig, but I wanted something in the middle. I had wanted to get a Kahr P9 Covert, but they were discontinued a while ago.

After chasing used P9s and Coverts on GunBroker, I finally just had Buds send a CW9 to my local FFL. I put a Galco M7X matrix OWB holster in the cart at the same time and its turned out to be a great rig.

I carried it for a day stock, and worked up the nerve to make my own Covert. So I cut .5" off the bottom, added a PM9 magazine, and its the best carry gun I could ask for. I shot 100 rounds last Saturday, its been flawless. Recoil is light, a little more than a G19, but feels less than the P3AT 380. I had to drift the rear sight a little to the right, and its now dead on. After doing a few mag change drills, I filed the sharp corner of the slide release. I also added the bike tube grip. Now I need to put an another hundred rounds through it. Next month, I see a Dawson front night sight heading my way.

The cut down process is dead simple, cut a little longer than final, very close to .5", and then sand, fitting the 6 round magazine as you go. The hook on the stock CW9 mag just makes a serious point which really sticks out when carrying. This way is much better for me. I could pocket the gun if I wanted to, but on my hip, I literally forget its there. Compared to my Glock 26, the height and length are very close. But it feels like a .5" thinner. Really probably like .3", but it feels so much more. Yea I give up 4 rounds, but... I got some spare 8 round mags. Its also like 5 oz lighter than the Glock.

Pics:
http://listmequick.com/kahr/kahr4.jpg
http://listmequick.com/kahr/kahr3.jpg

This is the stock CW9 mag, you can see how its much shorter cut down:
http://listmequick.com/kahr/kahr2.jpg
http://listmequick.com/kahr/kahr1.jpg

By doing it yourself, you can avoid the notorious Kahr GAP:
http://listmequick.com/kahr/GAP.jpg
(Borrowed pic)

[JCP281]

Nice work. I REALLY want to do it to mine.

[mad1ben2]

Very nice. I agree the covert is a fantastic design... I have the P40 covert and love it. I carry both with the flush and extended mag (note the extended mag does not have the lip like the one in your pictures... it has just enough material on it to be flush with the front of the polymer grip). Again, great job... and welcome to the forum!

[JCP281]

Now let me ask yall this. You can pocket a PM9, so is the .5" on the front of a CW THAT noticeable for cary?

[HadEmAll]

Very nice. Looks good. I wish I had your courage.

Scouts Out. (My son was a Cav Scout)

[mad1ben2]

Now let me ask yall this. You can pocket a PM9, so is the .5" on the front of a CW THAT noticeable for cary?

Personally I don't think so. I have a PM9 and the P40 covert... if I want to pocket carry the covert I use the flush mag... if I holster carry I use the extended mag just for a little more grip to grab when unholstering... the only condition I think you'd notice the extra 1/2" would be if you pocket carry and your pockets aren't deep enough to conceal the grip.

Mind you I rarely pocket carry the PM9 or the Covert... that's what the P380 is for... and I even hate pocket carrying it... if my clothes permit it I prefer IWB holster carry.. .pocket carry is usually a last resort when I just need to throw something in my pocket for a quick trip somewhere or to walk the dogs, etc..

[jocko]

I pocket carry 24/7 in levi's Harley Jeans, u name it with my PM9 with zero issues. certainly not a fast draw area but it is there 24/7. It prints IMO no more than a P380 does, certainly I don't even know it is there. I have a lifetime carry permit, so I realy don't give a rats ass it if prints a tad. But I can say I drink coffee with 3 state troopers very often and it has been in my jeans front pocket and they have never noticed it or challenged me as to what is in my pocket. We realy make alot to do out of this printing thing. I love my P380, shoots better than mh PM9, carrys super but it AIN'T a 9mm either, course I had tohave one of those P380, for reasons today, I know not why either.

I certainly believe kahr designed the PM9 and PM40 for pocket carry. I just believe that was their general direction and intent when they designed it. Course what the hell do I know, Bawanna PM's me every day and reminds me that I am indeed a dumb sh-t

[Bawanna]

"Bawanna PM's me every day and reminds me that I am indeed a dumb sh-t"
__________________

Now thats really not true and kind of unfair.

I didn't PM you yesterday. Not sure why, I think I just forgot or something.
I do try to make it part of my daily routine.
A day without hassling Jocko is a day without thunder storms or fiber or something, fill in the blank.

[jocko]

BUT BUT u sent me two of the same PM's today, so I figured you must made up for yesterday!!!

[Bawanna]

Could be so, could be so. I guess thats what they mean when your training takes over and you do things without concious thought. Course many think I do everything without concious thought so who's really to say.

[DBP9]

I had been wanting to get a Kahr for years. I got glocks (19,23,26,35), and I got a little P3AT in a great pocket rig, but I wanted something in the middle. I had wanted to get a Kahr P9 Covert, but they were discontinued a while ago.

After chasing used P9s and Coverts on GunBroker, I finally just had Buds send a CW9 to my local FFL. I put a Galco M7X matrix OWB holster in the cart at the same time and its turned out to be a great rig.

I carried it for a day stock, and worked up the nerve to make my own Covert. So I cut .5" off the bottom, added a PM9 magazine, and its the best carry gun I could ask for. I shot 100 rounds last Saturday, its been flawless. Recoil is light, a little more than a G19, but feels less than the P3AT 380. I had to drift the rear sight a little to the right, and its now dead on. After doing a few mag change drills, I filed the sharp corner of the slide release. I also added the bike tube grip. Now I need to put an another hundred rounds through it. Next month, I see a Dawson front night sight heading my way.

The cut down process is dead simple, cut a little longer than final, very close to .5", and then sand, fitting the 6 round magazine as you go. The hook on the stock CW9 mag just makes a serious point which really sticks out when carrying. This way is much better for me. I could pocket the gun if I wanted to, but on my hip, I literally forget its there. Compared to my Glock 26, the height and length are very close. But it feels like a .5" thinner. Really probably like .3", but it feels so much more. Yea I give up 4 rounds, but... I got some spare 8 round mags. Its also like 5 oz lighter than the Glock.

Pics:
http://listmequick.com/kahr/kahr4.jpg
http://listmequick.com/kahr/kahr3.jpg

This is the stock CW9 mag, you can see how its much shorter cut down:
http://listmequick.com/kahr/kahr2.jpg
http://listmequick.com/kahr/kahr1.jpg

By doing it yourself, you can avoid the notorious Kahr GAP:
http://listmequick.com/kahr/GAP.jpg
(Borrowed pic)

Beautiful work! I am mustering the confidence to buy a CW9 at Bud's for $369, and try this too. What did you use to cut the grip down? Also how did you polish the slide release. I am assuming a dremmel tool, but any specifics you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I may just be able to convince myself I can/should do this. Thanks!

[jocko]

dremel will certainly polsih the side release with ease. He did a super nice covert job.

[JCP281]

There is a nice how to here:http://www.***********/forums/non-xd-handguns/159569-kahr-cw40-covert.html

Give it a shot! after I get mine broken in im going to do it I think.

[cav_scout_tj]

I used a dremel for all the grip work. I used a big cut off wheel for the grip. I left it about 1/10" too long on purpose.

Then I fit the magazine and used a sanding wheel to make it shorter and shorter, checking where the mag was hitting, until the mag locked in place.

The wheel left it a little rough, so I clean it up with 400 grit wet sand paper.

The slide release, I didn't use the dremel. I had some 250 grit sand paper which I glued to a popsicle stick for a previous project. That sanding stick worked well for the slide release and the mag well.

There are several write-ups, on Glocktalk, the XD forum above and so on.

I love this pic... really shows the whole story:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc81/jbabbler/pistols/CW40-2.gif

[tractiongrips]

I'm just glad the CM9 will keep me from having to do that.

[cav_scout_tj]

Its all about choices. Kahr gives 3 choices:

CW9/P9: full grip, full length barrel/slide
CM9/PM9: short grip, short barrel/slide

And that 3rd choice is the Covert. They used to be available from the factory, now its a conversion. The covert offers the full length barrel/slide, but with the short grip.

For the basic gun buyer, the Covert did not catch on. Its compact, but not. Its got full sight radius and short grip. It was a contradiction. But for some people, like me, its got just the right mix.

If a CM9/PM9 fits your needs, thats great. I already have a pocket gun, I wanted something bigger, but still conceals well.

[tractiongrips]

I actually prefer the longer grip with higher capacity, along with a shorter slide myself. I don't find the longer slide to have much of a difference with it's slightly longer sight radius. I guess it it was several inches longer it may help, but with the difference between the CW9 and the PM9 I can't tell much difference. I just want the CM because it looks like it will be a nice addition to my collection of pocket sized guns. By the way, My brother-in-law just bought a Covert on Gunbroker, and he loves it.

[aray]

Really excellent work. And a lot more courage than I have!

[Pender1]

very nice work

[jocko]

Its all about choices. Kahr gives 3 choices:

CW9/P9: full grip, full length barrel/slide
CM9/PM9: short grip, short barrel/slide

And that 3rd choice is the Covert. They used to be available from the factory, now its a conversion. The covert offers the full length barrel/slide, but with the short grip.

For the basic gun buyer, the Covert did not catch on. Its compact, but not. Its got full sight radius and short grip. It was a contradiction. But for some people, like me, its got just the right mix.

If a CM9/PM9 fits your needs, thats great. I already have a pocket gun, I wanted something bigger, but still conceals well.

when the PMN series kahrs came out the covert died a slow death..

[dean1818]

I wonder when the CM40 will come out

I have an "itch" to buy a CW40 and try this, so I can pocket carry in the warm months in Texas

[jocko]

My opinion next year at the SHOT SHOW..

[xaman]

cav_scout,

Nice looking work.

Have you been shooting this one, notice any change at all in reliability?

[rwb1500]

Awesome job. I too want to cut down a CW9. I have a K40 Covert and it is the perfect iwb gun for me. My only issue is that its a little heavy, being all steel and what not... Hmmmm, gonna cut up a perfectly good gun sometime in my near future.