Reducing Thickness of Kahr K9 Grips: Project

[Darker Loaf]

Venom1956 has been working on reducing my Kahr K9 grips. The original factory grips are OK, but they are hogue-style rubber and they grab my shirts and often lift them up.

I purchased Kahr factory replacement grips for my K9 made of pau ferro, like the stock grips on T9's but shorter. However, these grips were far too thick and chunky for me to like them, so as a project, I am Venom1956 reduce them. I am not sure if I want them stippled or smooth, so I will probably carry them for a week or two smooth before I decide. I think they are coming along quite well, I think.

 

[Darker Loaf]

Here is a side profile of the non-original factory wood grips before they were reduced.

 

[Darker Loaf]

Here are the original rubber grips compared with the factory wood grips. See how thick the wood ones are in comparison! It may not seem like much, but they make the gun much closer to a double-stack gun in terms of thickness instead of the thin-is-sexy Kahr it is supposed to be.

 

[Darker Loaf]

Here are the reduced wood grips in comparison to the thickness of the stock rubber grips. Venom1956 has got them down to almost the same profile. I really like the feel. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to preserve the grips? I've got a bunch of beeswax. Would that rub in well or help to preserve them?

 

[Darker Loaf]

Finally, here are the reduced grips when compared with the factory wood grips in terms of thickness.

 

[pilpens]

It looks good.
I did the same thing with the plastic grips on a Sig P6 for my wife (GF at that time). I sanded the checkering off which reduced the thickness approx 2mm + short trigger.
Later, we bought a Kahr K9 with factory rubber grips for her. I carry it now; so, it has the thick wood grips which fit my hands better.

 

[Darker Loaf]

Thanks! I think the K9 wood grips feel good in hand, but I carry IWB and for me, thinness is extremely important.