faiello5, There are a few differences between the K9 and the E9.
1) K9 has a dovetailed front sight, E9's is pinned ( a consideration if you intend on installing night sights).
2) K9 has a better(?) finish than E9 (at least it looks better, don't know if it wears better).
3) K9 has soft rubber grips, E9 has hard plastic (you can buy the soft grips for about $16 if you prefer them).
4) K9 has some cosmetic machine work on the frame and slide that the E9 lacks (cosmetic only, maybe takes off some edges).
5) K9 is shipped with two magazines, E9 with one. The magazines run anywhere from $25-$37. If you buy another magazine you can add about $30 to the price of an E9.
The E9 is a good buy if you really want/need a KAHR, but won't have the money for a K9. If you plan on adding night sights or buying an extra magazine you will be better off getting the K9. The difference in price is around $80 in my area. Functionally they should shoot equally well and both have the KAHR warranty.
A lot of people complain about the heaviness of the KAHR compared to the small GLOCKS. I don't get it. Weigh a KAHR with its fully loaded magazine and compare that weight to a GLOCK 26 or 27 with its fully loaded magazine. The difference is very small (the GLOCK magazines hold ten, the KAHR seven). If one or two ounces makes a gun heavy and another light, then we are splitting hairs.
One of the good aspects of a steel gun versus a polymer gun of the same dimensions is that the weight of a cartridge can significantly affect the overall weight of a gun. When shooting a polymer framed gun the weight changes significantly while emptying a magazine. With a steel framed gun, the weight change is less significant as each cartridge is a smaller percentage of the overall package. Shake
[This message has been edited by Shake (edited December 19, 1999).]