My PM9 is rusting

[redskyzatknight]

Well, that's about it. I love Kahrs wholehaeartedly right under my Glocks. It seems to have started in the circular part of the mag catch (thick rust) and has moved lightly over the slide. I cleaned it less than two weeks ago and has not been shot but carried everyday since. I clean it immediately after every time it is shot or twice a month without fail. I noticed it yesterday but hav'nt had time to clean it yet. I'll get back on this thread for an update. I will say I saw a thread about Kahr rust after I had two for over a year and did'nt beleive it. It's the SS slide,it's carried in a leather IWB holster in Florida, I live on the beach FWIW. I'll post before and after (cleaning) pics in a day or two one way or another.

[compman]

Wow! That is a first. Can you post a pic?

[Catbird]

circular part of the mag catch (thick rust)
The "mag catch"? I don't understand. The magazine release (button) is polymer -- how can it rust? Do you mean the slide stop (lever)?

Both of my Kahrs, P40 and PM9, have very faint shaded areas on the left side of the slides. They are some sort of blemishes, however I consider them insignificant. I'm almost positive that they are NOT rust on mine because I tried to polish my P40's slide with Flitz and the area remained the same. I got such a great deal on both my Kahrs that I'm not going to fret about it unless it gets MUCH worse. Maybe you are seeing something on yours that I'm not seeing on mine.

[Michigun]

I’ve never seen rust on any of my stainless/stainless colored Kahr slides… however, I do hit them with some Flitz “stainless steel wax” (not polish, the wax) every now & then. It works.

The Kahr’s slide stop is not stainless steel & can rust (not very easily however) if not taken care of (I found this out when I rounded my K9’s slide stop at the rear & though I could leave it untreated… it rusted where I ground off the plating.)… especially the ‘circular area’! I’ve seen rust in the same spot on both my K9 & PM9 before (Haven’t seen it on my Covert yet.)… I brushed/sanded that area down & then applied a “bluing pen” to treat it. Problem solved!

FYI, where & in what you CCW your Kahr in will also have a big impact on whether you get rust or not. I used to SmartCarry my PM9 all the time after I 1st purchased it & the ‘circular area’ rusted right away… the SmartCarry DID NOT keep all the moister away from the gun. (Never got any slide rust with the SmartCarry though.)

By the way, some people are able to rust guns just because of their body’s chemistry… rare, but it does happen.

P.S. Even stainless steel can & will rust!

[Dandapani]

Originally posted by Michigun

P.S. Even stainless steel can & will rust!

Yes, I once read that if stainless steel is covered, it can rust. So I took the rubber Hogue grips off my Ruger Stainless Steel Security Six revolver and sure enough, where the rubber had been covering the inside of the frame, there was evidence of rust staining the metal. After that I was careful to always pull the grips off while cleaning and wipe it down carefully. Seems stainless needs exposure to air to form that protective layer at the surface of the metal.

[oldgranpa]

the SS slide on a PM9 is most likely type 416SS (we've checked this before with Kahr) which is 12%Cr, no nickel like type 17-4PH used by some mfg. Type 416 can rust exposed to sea air. But I would be most concerned about the holster and the chemicals used to cure the leather. Some leather will absorb moisture out of the air, if humid enough, and traces of chemicals then will rust your pistol. You might try rinsing out your holster, let it dry, and apply some good leather wax.
Do like Michigun says and protect your gun with a good wax or other protective oil. I use BreakFree CLP.
FWIW,
og

[unixglocker]

He's talking about the slide lock (I think) mine rusted in about two weeks of serious summer carry. My opinion is... Fug it, it's a carry gun, long as nothing that causes a functional problem is rusting I don't care.

[Glock'r]

Originally posted by unixglocker
Fug it, it's a carry gun, long as nothing that causes a functional problem is rusting I don't care.

Ignoring rust is a bad habit to get into, ESPECIALLY on a carry gun. The one time that your life may depend on it is not the time to find out that it has become a "functional problem."

Glock'r

[oldgranpa]

OK, if it's the slide lock then can understand the rust. Something to watch but like Glock'r says don't let it become a problem.

Hey, redskyz.....how about clarifying the rust for us. Is it the slide lock thingy?? How about the slide itself, is it rusting anyplace??

og.....got me curious now. The PM9 slide shouldn't rust with normal care.

[Michigun]

Originally posted by redskyzatknight
It seems to have started in the circular part of the mag catch (thick rust) and has moved lightly over the slide.

Sounds like the slide stop & the slide.

[redskyzatknight]

Heres a pic. My mistake, it's not the plastic magazine release to be sure.

[redskyzatknight]

I'm not very good with computers and I've spent too much time trying to get these pics to come up :) . My program wants to put a slideshow up and that just does'nt work online. The ridges in the slide look a bit rusty as well but this gun see's 12+ hours of carry a day and 6-8 of those are on a boat in the ocean. Kahrs are great little guns and the only gun small enough, powerful enough and tough enough to take the beating I give it. Good to see you around Michigun. If I can't get the rust off completely, I wil contact Kahr and see what if anything they'll do. I'd like to think they'll take care of me (it). This little sucker has over 3K through her, not exactly sure.

[Michigun]

Originally posted by redskyzatknight
Good to see you around Michigun.

You too!

Originally posted by redskyzatknight
If I can't get the rust off completely, I wil contact Kahr and see what if anything they'll do. I'd like to think they'll take care of me (it).

I'm sure they will... probably just send ya a new one out! ^c

[oldgranpa]

redskyz.....
just guessing, but from what I can make out from the picture.....
me thinks humid, salt air is reacting with something in your holster leather and producing a moist, corrosive surface for your pistol.
I'm assuming your holster is leather.
just guessing, but you sure have a problem,
FWIW,
og

[redskyzatknight]

Yeah, my Mom has been saying I have a problem for years now, I don't think so...;)

[Catbird]

I think if this was me, I'd get a new slide stop lever from Kahr, thoroughly degrease it with alcohol or brake cleaner and give it a couple of coats of clear fingernail polish. I'd probably give it a full 24 hours to cure before installing and carrying the gun.

If that failed to have satisfactory results, I would consider thoroughly cleaning the slide stop lever and drop it in some liquid cold bluing for a few minutes. Then take it out, rinse with water, dry and oil right away.