Robarized Kahr PM9

Giving the ROBAR-treatment to one of our all-time-favorite carry pistol's

ROBAR-KAHR-08A member of Kahr’s Premium Series, the little PM9 ($786) is the smallest 9mm pistol Kahr Arms makes. It’s also one of my favorite “pocket 9s,” and I’ve owned one for a number of years. Fitted with a 3.1-inch barrel, it weighs only 14 oz. empty. When compared side-by-side to the new Glock 42 .380 ACP, it offers the same 6+1 round capacity (7+1 round with the included extended magazine), is 1/2-inch shorter, less than 1/8-inch wider and has the same overall height. And, of course, it’s a real 9mm, not a “9mm short.”

My PM9 is one of my primary carry guns, and I practice with it a lot using the same Hornady 135-grain +P Critical Duty ammo (1,110 f.p.s./369 ft. lbs.) I load for personal defense. As a result, it was getting a little holster worn, so I figured it was a good candidate for upgrading and decided to send it to ROBAR to see what they could do for a Kahr pistol. I was surprised to learn from ROBAR’s Freddie Blish that they offer a comprehensive Kahr upgrade package, but you can pick and choose among the various options as you please, or add any of the dozens of other Kahr upgrades ROBAR offers individually. ROBAR’s standard Kahr upgrade package includes:

•    Add forward cocking serrations to the slide ($145)ROBAR-KAHR-06
•    Texture the grip frame ($85)
•    Smooth out the trigger operation ($60)
•    Dehorn and bull-nose the slide ($80)
•    Round and polish the trigger face ($55)
•    Add an extended beavertail to the grip frame ($195)
•    Polish and throat the feed ramp ($80)
•    Test fire for function ($35)
•    Ammunition for test firing ($10)
•    Engrave the Robar logo on the top of slide ($35)
•    Add XS 24/7 Big Dot night sights ($145)
•    NP3 Finish two magazines ($50)
•    NP3 refinish all metal components ($199)

Forward cocking serrations were added to aid in press-checks. Our PM9’s new XS big dot front night sight will be real tough to miss when the S.H.T.F.
Forward cocking serrations were added to aid in press-checks. Our PM9’s new XS big dot front night sight will be real tough to miss when the S.H.T.F.

The only two operations on the list that I opted against were the engraved ROBAR logo and

Robar’s grip texturing is tough to beat when you need all-weather, all-the-time traction.
Robar’s grip texturing is tough to beat when you need all-weather, all-the-time traction.

extended beavertail—the latter of which would have increased the likelihood of the gun “printing” underneath light garments when carried strong-side, inside-the-waist. Your mileage may vary here, and—depending on your method-of-carry—the beavertail prove be an worthwhile addition, and a definite aid in mitigating muzzle rise. Rather than having ROBAR finish the slide in silver NP3, I wanted a more stealthy look and decided on a matte black Poly-T2 finish that perfectly matched the matte black polymer frame.

You can’t beat the combination of lubricity and corrosion/wear resistance of Robar’s NP3 coating, and because of this, internal moving parts on our PM9 got the NP3 treatment.
You can’t beat the combination of lubricity and corrosion/wear resistance of Robar’s NP3 coating, and because of this, internal moving parts on our PM9 got the NP3 treatment.

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