When you heft a pistol for the first time, you tend to have a first impression, like or dislike, depending on how well that pistol marries to the hand. Some pistols with excellent ergonomics are the Browning HP, and the S&W Model 39. To this list I would add the Kahr Arms, Models K9 and T9.
The first time I gripped a T9, I knew I’d eventually own one. It blended into my hand like soft butter. Having grown accustomed to polymer-framed guns, I liked the solid feel of the all-steel Kahr. The T9s are sought-after pistols and not easy to find. They are nearly non-existent on the used-gun market and almost all the You Tube reviewers speak of their T9s with endearing terms bordering on infatuation. The T9 would make a superb plainclothes, off-duty or EDC handgun. The T9 and the Glock 19 are within a half- ounce of each other yet the T9 feels heavier.
I’m old enough to remember when the high capacity 9mm made its debut in modern double action pistols and everybody had to have one, including me. That was years ago. I’m now retired, I’m no longer on entry teams nor am I as likely to face the kinds of threats seemingly requiring high capacity handguns. Judgment and tactics always trumps guns and lots of bullets.
I’m not alone in this assessment as evidenced by the increasing popularity of small and slim, single-stack handguns. I feel more confident with a gun that’s easy to carry but also easy to shoot straight, minimizes recoil recovery and carries a reasonable amount of ammo. So, I tend to avoid small guns, that don’t allow three fingers around the grip without a magazine extension. I’d rather not trade too much tactical and ballistic effectiveness for carry convenience.
The four-inch barreled Model T9 is considered a medium-frame handgun and is thinner than duty-size handguns with a slide only .090 inches wide. Kahrs have the lowest bore axis of any pistol I’m familiar with, resulting in less muzzle flip. The trigger pull is easy and silky smooth but a bit long.
The T9 carries nine rounds (8+1) with a stock magazine. The three magazines that came with the gun have the stiffest springs I’ve ever encountered in a gun magazine. Yet, I had difficulty chambering the first round from a full magazine as that round would sometimes nosedive into the bottom of the feed ramp. I solved this problem with Wolff replacement springs that are five percent stronger and, which required that I invent a device to get them into the magazine body. That solved first-round feeding issues. I’m working on improving the magazine well by using diamond files and crocus cloth to chamfer its hard edge. There just isn’t enough meat there to do a full bevel.
The Kahr T9 joins my P9, both of which are illustrated below, a Browning HP and my Glocks 19 and 34. I don’t mind having five guns in the same chambering as it simplifies ammunition availability and cuts down on reloading supplies. The T9 will share EDC duties but it will not replace my laser-equipped, S&W M&P .45 ACP as my night stand gun.
The T9 is a “must-have” gun, whether it has a niche to fill or not. When we really like something, inventing a niche for it is the easy part. This is a serious, beautifully made, no-nonsense handgun, but with a few minor and correctable faults, that carries very nicely in either a belt or IWB holster. It is also a formidable ally to have on your side when society goes awry all around you.
The first time I gripped a T9, I knew I’d eventually own one. It blended into my hand like soft butter. Having grown accustomed to polymer-framed guns, I liked the solid feel of the all-steel Kahr. The T9s are sought-after pistols and not easy to find. They are nearly non-existent on the used-gun market and almost all the You Tube reviewers speak of their T9s with endearing terms bordering on infatuation. The T9 would make a superb plainclothes, off-duty or EDC handgun. The T9 and the Glock 19 are within a half- ounce of each other yet the T9 feels heavier.
I’m old enough to remember when the high capacity 9mm made its debut in modern double action pistols and everybody had to have one, including me. That was years ago. I’m now retired, I’m no longer on entry teams nor am I as likely to face the kinds of threats seemingly requiring high capacity handguns. Judgment and tactics always trumps guns and lots of bullets.
I’m not alone in this assessment as evidenced by the increasing popularity of small and slim, single-stack handguns. I feel more confident with a gun that’s easy to carry but also easy to shoot straight, minimizes recoil recovery and carries a reasonable amount of ammo. So, I tend to avoid small guns, that don’t allow three fingers around the grip without a magazine extension. I’d rather not trade too much tactical and ballistic effectiveness for carry convenience.
The four-inch barreled Model T9 is considered a medium-frame handgun and is thinner than duty-size handguns with a slide only .090 inches wide. Kahrs have the lowest bore axis of any pistol I’m familiar with, resulting in less muzzle flip. The trigger pull is easy and silky smooth but a bit long.
The T9 carries nine rounds (8+1) with a stock magazine. The three magazines that came with the gun have the stiffest springs I’ve ever encountered in a gun magazine. Yet, I had difficulty chambering the first round from a full magazine as that round would sometimes nosedive into the bottom of the feed ramp. I solved this problem with Wolff replacement springs that are five percent stronger and, which required that I invent a device to get them into the magazine body. That solved first-round feeding issues. I’m working on improving the magazine well by using diamond files and crocus cloth to chamfer its hard edge. There just isn’t enough meat there to do a full bevel.
The Kahr T9 joins my P9, both of which are illustrated below, a Browning HP and my Glocks 19 and 34. I don’t mind having five guns in the same chambering as it simplifies ammunition availability and cuts down on reloading supplies. The T9 will share EDC duties but it will not replace my laser-equipped, S&W M&P .45 ACP as my night stand gun.
The T9 is a “must-have” gun, whether it has a niche to fill or not. When we really like something, inventing a niche for it is the easy part. This is a serious, beautifully made, no-nonsense handgun, but with a few minor and correctable faults, that carries very nicely in either a belt or IWB holster. It is also a formidable ally to have on your side when society goes awry all around you.
