MK9 G10 Grips

[Flieger]

Amazing progress! Being an MK40 lover, I hope this expands to the whole all steel series, but the progress so far is amazing.

GREAT WORK!

[Alfonse]

Alright. I added material around the top of the back strap that b4uqzme pointed out. I think it will be awesome now, with a tighter radius like the factory grip along the curved edge at the top blending into the larger radius in the lower grip. I adjusted it to what should be a nice, close fit as well. That is the most difficult, and time consuming, area to make right on the entire part.

I added some material so the folks with the GA frames, like berettabone, can grind off that top flange and still have material left for the screw to hold onto. It shouldn't interfere with the mag. It will still go in further than the lower screw for everyone else. Oh, and the lower screw will have a bit more engagement. There will be some fitting for the GA frames though.

I also adjusted some other things that I don't think anybody else would notice to make things fit better.

Another, maybe the last set, of prototypes should be on their way to me soon.

[Big Sexy]

Hi, Al --
Just checking to see if there are any updates on finding a shop to machine these out of G10.

Thank you, sir!

[Alfonse]

Here is an update! I have done two additional prototype versions since the ones sent out for evaluation.

First, as far as being able to fit the GA series frames there is some news. The GA series was, I think, designed just like the K series grip. The little boss on the back of the top screw is not there. Relief was cut into the later frames and the boss was added behind that upper screw. The K series grips, and probably the ones on the GA series MKs are 0.550 inches thick compare to the later nylon grips that are 0.500 inches thick. Without going to a thicker grip, if the boss is removed so the grip fits all the frames, the grip screw sticks out when enough material is left to hold the grip on. It would take a thicker grip to make the grips fit the earlier frames. That would also increase the cost, requiring G10 sheet over 0.5 inches thick. So, the GA frames probably don't make sense to include in the G10 grips. I do have some thoughts on doing a polyurethane grip, which stands up to chemicals, ultra-violet, etc. and can even have a soft durometer (soft to the touch) in the future. I suspect Kahr made the changes after the GA serial number so the pistols could be as thin as possible for concealed carry.

Also, the fit at the top of the back strap I have taken a couple revisions to get right after seeing the photos of the tests from other members. The next, and hopefully last, printed prototype should be in my little hands tomorrow. If that fits as I expect it will, I will be ready to start machining G10 parts for the MK series. I do have a shop that will run them.

K series grips add thickness and size. I suspect they would get so pricy in G10 that it gets silly. However, there are other great materials. I do have them mostly modeled and have been incorporating what I learned in the MK series.

I will update again later this week!

[Bawanna]

I hope you got a handle on this my friend from the sunny side of the mountain. I've had nightmares about these grip changes, looks like your making progress.

G10 don't do much for me, I'm a wood guy myself, (big surprise). Maybe when you get caught up on the G10 MK's you can switch to wood or your poly idea. Fingers crossed for yall.

[Shadetree]

They will probably end up fitting most, but probably won't fit GA, GC, or LTD. Some have complained that with thes9 e G prefix serial numbers, they have had to do some carving to get the Kahr wooden grips to fit, then had trouble with the length of the standard screws not being long enough. Some like mine, have a slightly different hole configuration. What year or years they changed the hole spots is unknown as of yet. They're not different by much, at all. Wish I knew the reason for the change for a short time. Frustrating............................

I have an extra set of later than GA MK9 grips if you'd like to borrow them, also have a GA MK9 with the original grips if you need them for measuring and I could loan you both sets.

[Alfonse]

I hope you got a handle on this my friend from the sunny side of the mountain. I've had nightmares about these grip changes, looks like your making progress.

G10 don't do much for me, I'm a wood guy myself, (big surprise). Maybe when you get caught up on the G10 MK's you can switch to wood or your poly idea. Fingers crossed for yall.

I believe I have a handle on the tradeoffs. It looks like I can do any of the MK series that have the little boss under the top screw with the G10 grips. The ones that need carving on the Kahr wood grips are not a problem at this point.

I can always do more later. I kinda like wood myself.

[Alfonse]

I have an extra set of later than GA MK9 grips if you'd like to borrow them, also have a GA MK9 with the original grips if you need them for measuring and I could loan you both sets.

Thanks! I believe I have it covered. I have a late set of grips. I also think I understand the GA grips. They seem to measure just like the K grips until just below the top screw. I also have a GC framed pistol so I can easily check the clearance on that frame.

I think the worst part is getting a good solids model around the fit at the top of the back strap. I did some mods to the prototypes that are pictured earlier in this thread thinking I had it. They came out clunky. So, I redid it. I am thankful that it is pretty easy (and not too expensive) to print some parts for testing. That really helps.

[Big Sexy]

I have the MK40, not the MK9. Mine is an HA series MK40. Given that the Hogue wood grips sold on the Kahr site is supposed to fit both MK9 and MK40, am I correct in saying whatever you develop should also fit my MK40? If not, what is the difference? I have Hogue wood for mine, and it fit perfectly with no modifications.

I would be willing to try a prototype for fit and return it back to you once I verify, if you're interested.

Also, there is a shop not far from where I live that machines polymers, including G10. The shop supervisor is one of my friends. He told me he had been approached to make G10 grips for the Kahr MKs before, but never received an order from the customer. The only downside is he would need some actual grips to work from, as he said they don't have the software to work from a 3D CAD model.

[berettabone]

Sounds like progress.......................................... ..............................

[Alfonse]

I have the MK40, not the MK9. Mine is an HA series MK40. Given that the Hogue wood grips sold on the Kahr site is supposed to fit both MK9 and MK40, am I correct in saying whatever you develop should also fit my MK40?

Also, there is a shop not far from where I live that machines polymers, including G10. The shop supervisor is one of my friends. He told me he had been approached to make G10 grips for the Kahr MKs before, but never received an order from the customer. The only downside is he would need some actual grips to work from, as he said they don't have the software to work from a 3D CAD model.

Yes, MK grips are the same whether for .40 or 9mm, as are the K series. If I remember, you are in Texas. So is the shop I expect to order with. It has taken me longer than I expected to perfect the fit, so it could be me they think has given up. I will follow up with the folks and make sure they know where I am on the project. I was hoping to have the "last" set of prototypes today, but they haven't shown yet. I have a couple of other parts I want to talk with them about too. I'm not sure if it is the same folks or not.

So, yes, there is progress!

[Big Sexy]

If I remember, you are in Texas. So is the shop I expect to order with. I'm not sure if it is the same folks or not.

Yes, I live in Texas. Was it Brenham, TX, by chance? If so, you're talking to the same folks as I am, and Josh (shop supervisor) is a good friend of mine. He used to work in our shop, in fact.

As you may recall from our phone conversation, I too work in a machine shop. Although we could easily make these grips, and I did discuss it with my boss, he doesn't want to introduce G10 or any polymers into our mix because it creates problems with contamination and segregation of our steel chips scrap, which we sell, as well as contaminates the inside of our CNC machines. Plastic shavings would get in every nook and cranny that would be next to impossible to completely clean out and prevent getting into our steel chips. Pllus, if we made them, the only way we could get the price to a reasonable level that people would actually buy the grips would have to involve an agreement to make "X" number of units, and that "X" would have to be a big number to amortize our costs of designing and building fixturing, setup, programming, overhead, etc. If we did it, we'd also have to buy a 5-axis milling machine to really optimize cycle time to meet a competitive price point.

[oio]

Anyone here attempt to use the rubber K9 grips on the MK9?
I first did this years ago when A&G started selling their mag spacers for a +1 capacity

[Alfonse]

All the fit issues are confirmed solved. Stay tuned...

[Alfonse]

Here is what a somewhat crudely printed prototype looks like. This was done to check the fit at the top of the back strap is correct. It is just as Bawanna suggested, slightly proud of the metal. I painted it for the second photo. The actual machined parts will be much crisper in their definition.



And, with some paint on it:



Time to start making some parts!