Kahr

17 Sept 09

News from Kahr:

I talked with friends at Kahr today about their new PM9/193 Pistol.

It is a PM9, that many of us use daily for concealed carry, with two new additions:

(1) It has a loaded-chamber indicator. The pattern used is the same as is used on the SA/XD and XD/M. It is a teeter-tauter on top of the chamber that is flat when the chamber is empty and tilts up when a round is in the chamber. My advice to students is, of course, to ignore loaded-chamber indicators and instead perform a manual chamber-check. That way, there is no doubt with regard to the status of the gun, and you don't have to worry about the particular brand of gun you're currently using!

(2) I also has a two-position, manual safety. It takes the form of a lever, high on the rear of pistol's frame. It is not a "carry-safety" as with the 1911. It is a "storage-safety." Up is "off." Down is "on," so it works the opposite of the 1911. It thus cannot be disengaged quickly during the draw, so it is suitable only for storage purposes. When the pistol is carried, this manual safety should be in the "off" position. The pistol is thus no more, nor less, "safe" than are all other Kahr pistols, including the PM45 I'm carrying right now!

At least Kahr's manual safety does not allow the hammer to fall normally, but with no shot, hopelessly confusing the user. With the manual safety " on," the trigger simply goes slack, instantly informing the Operator what he needs to do in order to get the pistol running.

I'll have a copy shortly for testing.

Conventional versions of Kahr Pistols (without the above additions) will continue to be manufactured and sold normally where they can be.

Kahr has reluctantly added these features in order to continue to market pistols in certain states that now insist all new pistols sold commercially have certain "features." New regulations demand a ten-pound trigger, grip-safety, internal lock, manual-safety, magazine-safety, or some combination. "Rules" are typically written so poorly that it is impossible to know what guns will be "approved" by the AG and what guns will not. All manufacturers, like Kahr, can do is submit copies to the AG and wait for a response.

Curiously, police, including the Governor's bodyguard staff, and the Governor himself, in those same states are exempt from these "rules." Imagine that!

Kahr's pistols are mostly small and designed to address the concealed-carry market. The problem is when they add "features," such as the foregoing, additional parts tend to be so tiny that there is real concern with regard to the way in which they will affect durability and reliability. Only extensive testing, in the field, will finally settle the question.

So, unless you live in certain states, like CA, MA, and one or two others, the foregoing is of no concern. You may continue to buy and use any of Kahr's entire line of concealment pistols. Either way, you will continue to enjoy Kahr's wonderful customer service!

Kahr is a proud, American Gun Company, employing American craftsmen, and we all want them to be widely successful!

/John