MK9 for pocket carry?

[emt1581]

I've never been a fan of Kahrs, never shot one, held one, seen one at the range, etc. But I've taken a closer look at them and the MK9 was reccommended as a good pocket gun.

What do yall think of the MK9 for pocket carry?

Right now I alternate between a P3AT and a S&W 649 .357 mag snubbie. The MK9 only weighs an ounce more than the revolver, but I'm affraid of printing due to the blockiness of the MK9.

Can anyone offer personal experience and advice on the MK9 for pocket carry?

I found a decent deal for a 3 month old MK9 with the blackened slide and stainless grip for $375...is that a good deal, great deal, decent deal?...it also comes with some extra mags.

What is the quality of the blackened slides like? Can I drop it on the pavement and not expect any scratches? I know it's an idiotic thing to do, but I've done it with an unloaded Glock and it's yet to show ANY proof of being dropped.

Can you reccommend a good pocket holster?...that can carry a spare mag as well...?

Right now both pocket guns are carried with one reload. I'd like the same to be possible with the MK9 if I do go with it.

Any other advice is certainly welcome.:)

Thanks

-Emt1581

[No Quarter]

I pocket carry a black slide MK9 daily. It has been nothing but relable and accurate. No problems at all with it. I can shoot it as accurately as my G26.

I use a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster and it works great. I actually use a double mag snap on belt carrier that was made for 2 1991 mags to carry two reloads. I carry it in my back off hand pocket like a wallet. Allows me to have 21 rounds of +p+ ammo on hand if needed.

The finish on my gun is "passivated" stainless steel. I believe this is different than what is on the gun that you are going to get since mine was a part of a weird run of Kahrs that they used stainless slides for instead of carbon steel. It shows no wear so far after 1000 rounds and several months of pocket carry.

Mine was bought new in box for $380 and only came with one mag.

There are not many things in the world that can be dropped on pavement and not come away with at least a small blemish. Drop a hammer on the pavement and it will at least have a small ding on it. The Glock has lots of nice springy polymer on it to absorb bumps and bruises. The MK9 is all metal. I can't imagine it not having a small ding if you go playing street hockey with it :)

That said, they are incredibly well made, easy to shoot and easy to carry in a pocket. I can;t see ever carrying a .380 or less again for a pocket gun. I can have +p 9mm in an accurate reliable little gun.

Good luck on your purchase. I do not hink that $375 for a 3 month old Kahr is out of line at all. I know that warmrain is a big fan of the MK9 and I am sure we will hear from him on this also.

NQ

Here is a pic of mine!

[silky]

I also like the Nemesis with my MK9. I tried an Uncle Mike's, but it looked like an L shape in my pocket - too much like a gun. Noone has ever commented or noticed the Nemesis that I'm aware of.

I also carry it in a Pager Pal leather holster. Slightly less accessible than in a pocket, but totally concealed, no cover garment needed.

I suspect the pistol you're looking at is an MK9BOX model, same as I have. The slide is carbon steel with a Black OXide finish. $375 is a fair price, especially with extra mags. Mine was $380 NIB w/2 mags. In just a few months mine has collected one or two scratches, and no holster wear.

[emt1581]

Thanks for the replies.

The word "carbon" tends to scared the bejesus out of me when we're talking about guns. ^4 ^3

I guess I'll pass on what sounds like a barely decent deal. I'd be willing to pay the extra few bucks for the stainless I suppose.

Anyways, thanks for the replies,....and keep em comin ;)

-Emt1581

[ProfMoriarty]

An MK9 is my daily carry, but in a belt holster.

While some can carry the MK9 comfortably in a pocket, I'm not one of them.

(BTW, I'm not a fan of pocket carry anyway which makes presentation from a seated position or on the run problematic, so I don't see it as much of an issue for me.)

[BackDraft]

Originally posted by emt1581
Thanks for the replies.

The word "carbon" tends to scared the bejesus out of me when we're talking about guns. ^4 ^3

I guess I'll pass on what sounds like a barely decent deal. I'd be willing to pay the extra few bucks for the stainless I suppose.

Anyways, thanks for the replies,....and keep em comin ;)

-Emt1581 Not to sound like a butt head but what is wrong with steel??? I have a E9 with over 15,000 round thru it as of last week. If you wipe it down and lube it properly you should have no problems. Don't get me wrong about stainless and steel guns,I like both but if it is a good deal don't rule out a steel gun. I bought this one of mine alittle over a year ago it was an older 1997 built gun. It had been fired about 50 rounds before I bought it and its been carried daily since and used to teach 10 classes. In all fairness there is noth wrong with steel or stainless but I think the steel made guns hold up alot better.IMHO

[warmrain]

Check to see if the slide is marked "stainless", otherwise it is ordinary high carbon steel. AFAIK, Glocks are not stainless under all that black, they too are carbon steel.

I carried the MK9 for about 5 years in a Mitch Rosen (http://www.mitchrosen.com) PSF. I found it to be a little too heavy (pendulum swing and pocket wear), but could not find an alternative until the polymer Kahrs became available.

I think the better Kahr for pocket carry is the PM9 or P9 Covert. I think the better revolver for pocket carry is the 340. I've still got my MK9 and I also have a S&W 640 but they don't go in the pocket anymore.

[emt1581]

Originally posted by BackDraft
Not to sound like a butt head but what is wrong with steel??? I have a E9 with over 15,000 round thru it as of last week. If you wipe it down and lube it properly you should have no problems. Don't get me wrong about stainless and steel guns,I like both but if it is a good deal don't rule out a steel gun. I bought this one of mine alittle over a year ago it was an older 1997 built gun. It had been fired about 50 rounds before I bought it and its been carried daily since and used to teach 10 classes. In all fairness there is noth wrong with steel or stainless but I think the steel made guns hold up alot better.IMHO

Sounds like you really love yours. But the carbon compared to the stainess opens up some issues for me. The front of yours looks like the finish is gone from holster wear. I bet if you let that go for more than a few months without lubing it, it'd start to rust.


Warmrain-

About the Glocks. The outter finish on a Glock is supposed to be one of the hardest substances in the world. The inside could be made of twinkies for all I care ;)...my Glocks are freakin workhorses that always come home looking NIB!:)

Thanks!

-Emt1581

[UrbanCowboy]

Originally posted by emt1581
About the Glocks. The outter finish on a Glock is supposed to be one of the hardest substances in the world. The inside could be made of twinkies for all I care ;)...my Glocks are freakin workhorses that always come home looking NIB!:)

Thanks!

-Emt1581 The metal is treated with Tennifer. That has nothing to do with the black finish. You cannot see the Tennifer. The MK9 for pocket carry to me seemed a little to heavy. The 8oz difference is pretty noticable. I ended up getting a PM9 with the DLC finish which has a 90 Rockwell C rating.

[josp]

I carry an older blued steel K9 with no issues of rust. It is carried IWB and gets a wipe down about once a week. My Glock also showed use at the corners from holster wear, but that just says it's been around.

[bulbboy]

I find mine to heavy to pocket carry ! You guys are more of a man that I am....;T

[warmrain]

I did it for 5 or so years, but I won't go back. There are better choices. I was always preactively reinforcing all my pockets with iron on patches and then still having to replace them... Couldn't run for a crosswalk light...

The PM9 takes all those concerns away. So would an airweight revolver...

[NailShooter]

I usually carry my MK9 in a DeSantis OWB holster w/ cover garment in cold weather. In warm weather, I sometimes pocket carry it in a DeSantis Nemesis. You need a good belt on to keep your pants up either way, as it's a weighty little bugger.

It is shorter than a J frame, and I find it hides better in a pocket than one. Mine doesn't flop around or cause pocket wear as others have said. YMMV.


NS

[warmrain]

Originally posted by NailShooter
...You need a good belt on to keep your pants up either way, as it's a weighty little bugger...
Right! Few consider that you need a gun belt for pocket carry too. I suppose you can get away without one with an 8 oz. Kel-Tec... But an MK9, no way.

[drofnas]

I've carried my PM9 in the pocket a bunch. I carry it IWB much more often. If I'm going to pocket carry, I typically reach for my P32.

[kahrcarrier]

Originally posted by ProfMoriarty
An MK9 is my daily carry, but in a belt holster.

While some can carry the MK9 comfortably in a pocket, I'm not one of them.

(BTW, I'm not a fan of pocket carry anyway which makes presentation from a seated position or on the run problematic, so I don't see it as much of an issue for me.)

Same here. I prefer my MK9 carried OWB.
I wouldn't worry too much about the finish wear. I have had my GLOCK exactly one year today, and it has developed noticeable lightening on the black slide from its' holster.....

[jmb79]

For the past nine months I have pocket carried my MK9 all day, five days a week and sometimes as a backup on weekends. I absolutely love this little pistol. I have experience zero malfunctions at the range as well.

The MK9 does not print for me. I work in an office environment and wear a suit many days and dress slack with a collared shirt the rest of the time. Pocket carry is the most hidden, quickest draw carry method for my situation. I don't believe that the MK9 is not too heavy for pocket carry but many will disagree with this opinion.

Clearly, I think MK9s are perfect pocket pistols.

Gratuitous excuse for posting a picture:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/greenst/thekahralone.jpg

[warmrain]

Originally posted by jmb79
For the past nine months I have pocket carried my MK9 all day, five days a week and sometimes as a backup on weekends. I absolutely love this little pistol. I have experience zero malfunctions at the range as well.

The MK9 does not print for me. I work in an office environment and wear a suit many days and dress slack with a collared shirt the rest of the time. Pocket carry is the most hidden, quickest draw carry method for my situation. I don't believe that the MK9 is not too heavy for pocket carry but many will disagree with this opinion.

Clearly, I think MK9s are perfect pocket pistols.

Of the 10 pistols I own the MK9 is my favorite and the PM9 my least, does that tell you something? Yet because my dress style is as yours I pocket carry and most often it happens to be the PM9

Yours is a wonderful little pistol and I'm glad you posted a pic. Now tell us about the magazine base plate. Is this a flush magazine with a K9 base plate or something else perhaps custom?

[jmb79]

warmrain,

Yes, you are correct. I took a base plate from a K9 seven round magazine and modified it to work on the MK9 six round magazine. The K9 base plate fits on the six round magazine but you have to modifiy the base plate in order for the magazine catch to hold the magazine properly in the pistol The modification involved sanding the top of the base plate a little bit at a time and checking for fit until it worked in the MK9. Basically, you have to shorten the over all length of the base plate.

The base plate greatly improves control and reduces grips slippage, especially shen shooting Corbon 125gr. +P ammo.

[triehl27]

I've had my MK 9 for close to a year now and have pocket carried it for much of that time. Not only does it front pocket carry well but in a pinch unchambered it works great in the back pocket of jeans. Looks like a wallet.

I traded in a PM9 for the MK9 for functon issues. My MK9 has never yet had a failure, even using ammo that should make it fail, i.e. WW2 crap surplus and A-Merc.

The Blackened BOX model is just a functional as the Stainless. IMHO

[Undead Jed]

I pocket carry my MK9 everyday. I also carry the spare mag weakside.

It is heavy, but I'm not willing to compromise. I would own a Rohrbaugh, if they made it with a steel frame.

[switch625]

I pocket carry a 26 which is very close in weight to the MK9. Just ordered an MK9 to pocket carry in smaller pockets the 26 won't fit.

[warmrain]

Originally posted by switch625
I pocket carry a 26 which is very close in weight to the MK9. Just ordered an MK9 to pocket carry in smaller pockets the 26 won't fit.
Weight close, yes... I've never been able to get the G26 width to pocket carry comfortably and still conceal, as much as I like the pistol...

So here I am with a PM9...

[DAVE RICHARDS]

I have the MK40 the .40 caliber version ofthe MK9. I got it when they first came out and have nothing but good to say about mine. It has been 100% relaible, excellent accuracy, great trigger, and very concealable. It is my hot weather gun in the summer. In a pair of shorts with an Uncle Mikes pocket holster it is one potent pocket rocket. It is much flatter than my j-frame. A more potent round. And easier to control. Several friends own the MK9 and feel the same about theirs. They are a bit heavy. But especially with 9mm +p's or the .40 caliber the weight may be a good thing. I had nightsights put on mine and wood grips. It's a real beauty.