CM9 Failed Safety test update

[Hayduke Lives]

Hello everybody.

Ok so just last week I got my self a new CM9. Brought it home to break it down and give it a good cleaning. Thing was dripping factory oil!

With the slide off I noticed the firing pin ''striker'' protruding beyond the breech face. I played around with the striker block and it seems to be working. If I press it in I'm able to push the firing pin all the way out.
If I let the striker block go, and don't touch it. It does block the firing pin from extending all the way out. However if I push up on the striker ever so slightly I'm able to make the just firing pin head protrude slightly past the breech face, and there it will stay. It's not under pressure, but just loose hanging there.
It's almost as if the firing pin in a fraction too long or the striker blocker is out of spec?

So according to page 23 of the kahr manual my gun fails the safety test.


I removed the firing pin and block. Cleaned out all the grease, oil and anything else. Then I gave it a nice supper thin coating of clp. I reassembled, and it still does it

It's not protruding too much, probably not enough to reach the primer since the primer in 9mm is slightly recessed.
Plus it's not under much tension or pressure when it is sticking out.
However it is protruding beyond the breech face and and this a is a big no no. If this is to be my CCW gun. I'm going to not like the idea that the firing pin is anywhere near a chambered round in my pants!!

I sent a email to kahr and will try calling them in the morning.

However I'm in California. I bough the CM9 under the SSE single shot exemption loop hole. This loop hole is closing come Jan 1. If I send it back, and Kahr decides to replace instead of fixing it. I wont be able to take ownership of the gun if after Jan 1.

[Antarius]

First, make sure you're testing it properly.

Retract the striker SLOWLY, and let it return to it's resting point. When you do that, the striker should rest against the block safety and NOT protrude from the breach. When testing this way, does it still protrude?

Secondly, if yes; Call Kahr and ask them to send you a label to return the firearm. The safeties in question are in the slide, so it's not likely you will have a problem with the SSE issue -- as you won't have to send it through an FFL. You ship it directly to them - and so long as the frame doesn't get changed by Kahr (I can't see why it would), they send it back to your doorstep via UPS or Fedex.

[Hayduke Lives]

If I slowly retract the striker and let it return to its resting position. It doest not protrude. However if I give it a light push it will protrude a slightly. There is a small amount if play in the strikers resting position.

Is this normal for kahr? Thanks.

I just want to get it to the rang and play with it. However if I need to return it. I should probably not fire it.

[Antarius]

If I slowly retract the striker and let it return to its resting position. It doest not protrude. However if I give it a light push it will protrude a slightly. There is a small amount if play in the strikers resting position.

Is this normal for kahr? Thanks.

I just want to get it to the rang and play with it. However if I need to return it. I should probably not fire it.

I believe that is normal. You are essentially forcing the striker past the block - though it has no tension to set the primer off.

The manual describes the striker safety test as I did -- and it sounds like yours is operating fine.

If you're concerned, id recommend emailing service@kahr.com and telling them that it passes the test per the manual, though when you add pressure to the striker it does protrude past the breech, with no tension. I'd put money on it that its in spec. My GLOCK and Kimber do the same.

[CJB]

Keep in mind the striker is a two piece affair with just a bit of float between the parts. Float - a little give and take.

However, if you're able to push the striker forward and it protrudes.... I don't think thats quite correct. The idea for the block is to prevent a striker from protruding if the cam/striker's tab fail. Thats because there is some tension on the striker spring when the pistol is in battery.

Call Kahr on that one.

[Antarius]

Keep in mind the striker is a two piece affair with just a bit of float between the parts. Float - a little give and take.

However, if you're able to push the striker forward and it protrudes.... I don't think thats quite correct. The idea for the block is to prevent a striker from protruding if the cam/striker's tab fail. Thats because there is some tension on the striker spring when the pistol is in battery.

Call Kahr on that one.

Ya I actually just checked a different pistol and the block physically won't let it go forward once the striker is pulled back to its "safe" spot.

CJB is correct, call Kahr.

[Hayduke Lives]

Yes I know I'm going to have to send it in
I googled this issue and could not find anyone else with this issue. So its not a common problem with kahr. So that's good. I really want to like this gun. If I can get it working right. It will be my new carry peice.

I'm hoping kahr can diagnose the issue over the phone.
So I don't have to send it in. They can just send me a new striker block or striker?

My main concern is that they might decide to replace instead of fixing it.
After Jan 1. If Kahr replaces the gun. I won't be able to take possession of it. It is not on the California safe gun list. Only way to get a off roster gun is by being a police officer, or used gun PPT, or through the SSE loop hole. California is closing down the single shot exemption loop hole.

Lets say if this was a extractor issue with FTE problems . And kahr wanted to replace the gun. I could refuse. Kahr would have no issues sending the defective gun back. As it would only be a performance issue. However this issue with the firing pin pertruding. That's a safety and liability issue. No way in hell would they send it back.

Any way thanks for answering my question.
I'll update this post when I get some progress.

[CJB]

Replace striker parts. Possibly block too. No biggie. They may send parts

[Antarius]

Yes I know I'm going to have to send it in
I googled this issue and could not find anyone else with this issue. So its not a common problem with kahr. So that's good. I really want to like this gun. If I can get it working right. It will be my new carry peice.

I'm hoping kahr can diagnose the issue over the phone.
So I don't have to send it in. They can just send me a new striker block or striker?

My main concern is that they might decide to replace instead of fixing it.
After Jan 1. If Kahr replaces the gun. I won't be able to take possession of it. It is not on the California safe gun list. Only way to get a off roster gun is by being a police officer, or used gun PPT, or through the SSE loop hole. California is closing down the single shot exemption loop hole.

Lets say if this was a extractor issue with FTE problems . And kahr wanted to replace the gun. I could refuse. Kahr would have no issues sending the defective gun back. As it would only be a performance issue. However this issue with the firing pin pertruding. That's a safety and liability issue. No way in hell would they send it back.

Any way thanks for answering my question.
I'll update this post when I get some progress.

they aren't going to replace the part which would require you to DROS it again (the frame). If they replaced anything, it would be the slide and its internals and you don't need to go through an FFL for that.

[jocko]

Hello everybody.

Ok so just last week I got my self a new CM9. Brought it home to break it down and give it a good cleaning. Thing was dripping factory oil!

With the slide off I noticed the firing pin ''striker'' protruding beyond the breech face. I played around with the striker block and it seems to be working. If I press it in I'm able to push the firing pin all the way out.
If I let the striker block go, and don't touch it. It does block the firing pin from extending all the way out. However if I push up on the striker ever so slightly I'm able to make the just firing pin head protrude slightly past the breech face, and there it will stay. It's not under pressure, but just loose hanging there.
It's almost as if the firing pin in a fraction too long or the striker blocker is out of spec?

So according to page 23 of the kahr manual my gun fails the safety test.


I removed the firing pin and block. Cleaned out all the grease, oil and anything else. Then I gave it a nice supper thin coating of clp. I reassembled, and it still does it

It's not protruding too much, probably not enough to reach the primer since the primer in 9mm is slightly recessed.
Plus it's not under much tension or pressure when it is sticking out.
However it is protruding beyond the breech face and and this a is a big no no. If this is to be my CCW gun. I'm going to not like the idea that the firing pin is anywhere near a chambered round in my pants!!

I sent a email to kahr and will try calling them in the morning.

However I'm in California. I bough the CM9 under the SSE single shot exemption loop hole. This loop hole is closing come Jan 1. If I send it back, and Kahr decides to replace instead of fixing it. I wont be able to take ownership of the gun if after Jan 1.

My 21 cents, ur doing this with the slide off the gun, it isnot designed to be maninipulated that way. Thecocking cam will held the striker back, and with the slide off the gun,u took the cocking cam out of play and it isdesigned to work with the cocking cam in the gun. IMO there is nuttin wrong with the gun,. When u rack that slide a 1/4 " u are now engaging the cocking cam, IT HOLDS THE STRIKER BACK./ Not the striker block. The striker block canonly be activated by pulling the triggert as then the cocking cam turns forward and rolls the striker block out of the way. . IMO I just do not see a problem here. A kahr is probably 15% pre-cocked every time that slide moves a 1/4" and that striker now is just not gonna move PERIOD..

[muggsy]

Jocko is correct. (Yes, I used the decoder ring.)After the gun is fired and the slide starts back forward the striker is captured by the cocking cam and placed in a partially cocked position. There isn't anything wrong with your gun. See the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYRH...e=results_main

[muggsy]

Keep in mind the striker is a two piece affair with just a bit of float between the parts. Float - a little give and take.

However, if you're able to push the striker forward and it protrudes.... I don't think thats quite correct. The idea for the block is to prevent a striker from protruding if the cam/striker's tab fail. Thats because there is some tension on the striker spring when the pistol is in battery.

Call Kahr on that one.

If you have a two piece striker Contact Kahr immediately. Your striker is broken. Kahr strikers are one piece. The strike assembly is made up of four parts. The striker, striker spacer, striker spring and striker spring guide rod.

[CJB]

Jman, why even have a striker block then?

Answer: its an extra measure.

My 21 cents, ur doing this with the slide off the gun, it isnot designed to be maninipulated that way. Thecocking cam will held the striker back, and with the slide off the gun,u took the cocking cam out of play and it isdesigned to work with the cocking cam in the gun. IMO there is nuttin wrong with the gun,. When u rack that slide a 1/4 " u are now engaging the cocking cam, IT HOLDS THE STRIKER BACK./ Not the striker block. The striker block canonly be activated by pulling the triggert as then the cocking cam turns forward and rolls the striker block out of the way. . IMO I just do not see a problem here. A kahr is probably 15% pre-cocked every time that slide moves a 1/4" and that striker now is just not gonna move PERIOD..

[CJB]

If you have a two piece striker Contact Kahr immediately. Your striker is broken. Kahr strikers are one piece. The strike assembly is made up of four parts. The striker, striker spacer, striker spring and striker spring guide rod.

The striker (assy) has two parts that move - the striker is not directly connected to the spring tension, but is moved by the "spacer" which sort of allows the striker itself to move on its own. The spacer stops, but the striker will continue moving and contact the firing pin. As such, there is a little play in things, but not much.

Muggsy's technocratic reply is of course technocratically correct, and I hope our combined clarification resolves any difficulty folks had understanding how the mechanism works.

[Hayduke Lives]

Hey guys.
Yes I realize that when the slide is on the gun, and is sliding forward. The cam/trigger snags the firing pin and pulls it back a tad. So when locked and loaded the pin is not protruding.
However the concern comes from a unlikely scenario. If the gun drops. The shock of it landing. Could tweak the gun just enough to cause the frame and slide to move up enough for the striker to fly forward. That is why the striker block is there.

Anyway, today I took the striker out and filed down the tip just a little. It no longer protrudes past the breech. No mater how hard I push on it. I did this because I really wanted to take it to the range. I had lots of fun with it. Shoots really well for such a small gun

I ordered a new striker today from Kahr, only $16.95.
If it does not protrude. Then that means the original striker was too long, and I'll have my self a spare striker.
If the new one protrudes. I'll send the gun back to Kahr.

Thanks for the help guys