Kahr News 2013
Kahr® Introduces Two Value-Priced Full-Frame Firearms
December 2, 2013
Pearl River, NY – Kahr introduces their new full-frame CT40 and CT45. The first value-priced full frame firearm offering from Kahr.
For decades, Kahr has offered gun enthusiasts the option of both compact and full-frame firearms. Their popular TP9, TP40 and TP45 have become legendary, but as the economy continues to take a hit, the demand for more affordable firearms has become a call to duty. Kahr took the best features of their TP-series and with ingenuity and their meticulous dedication to detail and quality, they developed the CT Series.
Both the new CT4043 and the CT4543 features a full-size polymer frame with a stainless steel slide and white bar-dot sight configuration. The CT4043 features a 4” barrel, overall length of 6.5”, height of 5.13” and a slide width of .94”. It weighs just 21.8 oz. with the magazine, making it very slim, lightweight and perfect for concealed carry. The CT4543 has a barrel length of 4.04”, overall length of 6.57”, height of 5.25” and a slide width of 1.01”. It weighs 23.7 oz. with the magazine, and both models feature a 7+1 capacity and ship with one 7-round stainless steel magazine. The two models will retail at an affordable $449 for both .40 S&W and .45 ACP configurations. Kahr's larger frame CT Series is new for 2014 and shipments will be available beginning February 2014.
In the last four years, Kahr has dramatically improved their USA manufacturing and production processes making it possible to pass along the savings to consumers with this price breakthrough. Kahr is currently the only firearms manufacturer to offer this level of technology and innovation at this level of value.
Both the CT4043 and CT4543 feature Kahr’s seven patents and industry-leading slim and clean single stack design for concealed carry and home defense.
SNEAK PEEK: Auto-Ordnance 1911TC
Personal Defense World | November 18, 2013
When Guns Must Go: Makers Mull Moves as Laws Raise Risk
The Wall Street Journal | November 12, 2013
John Perkins, Guided Chaos creator highly recommends the Kahr pistol line for defensive concealed carry
October 1, 2013
Bare-hands to Handguns, Part 1: Myth vs. Reality
By John Perkins, former Yonkers NY detective, forensic crime scene expert and Guided Chaos creator; and Ari Kandel, Guided Chaos 4th degree
A Revelation?
For some, apparently, the result of the study was a revelation. For others, however, it had been common knowledge for a long time.
At least since the beginning of the 20th Century, there have been tensions between competition-based and conflict-based training methodologies in military, police and civilian firearms training. Repeatedly, periods of intense conflict (e.g. Prohibition and the Great Depression for law enforcement, World War II for the military) have given rise to training methodologies designed to deal with the actual conflicts being fought. In the absence of such all-consuming conflicts, however, methods based on competitive marksmanship tend to quickly reassert themselves in the name of “progress”.
Competition or Conflict-Based Training?
The conflict-based methodologies have always included some variations of “point shooting” (i.e. shooting without conscious use of the firearm's sights) to deal with fast, close quarters, reactive conflict situations. The FBI's early training methods, created in part by veteran gunfighters such as Delf “Jelly” Bryce, and the World War II-era methods developed by William Fairbairn and Rex Applegate, are good examples of this. After the World War II era, however, as soldiers, cops, civilians and trainers gradually became further and further removed from the crucible of widespread total war, “combat competition”-based methods moved to the forefront as the most “scientifically tested” and “proven” training methods for gunfighting.
Unfortunately, combat (or more appropriately, “action”) competition-based methods, while in some cases useful for certain aspects of combative firearms application, completely ignore the true, universal dynamics of close quarters reactive combat. The hallmarks of the action competition-based methods, such as a strictly prescribed, two-handed shooting stance and major focus on sight alignment and sight picture, are almost never possible nor even advisable in actual close quarters reactive combat (as distinct from longer range and/or proactive combat, where you have the initiative and control the timing of the engagement). As the late Jim Cirillo, veteran NYPD gunfighter, wrote: “Your problem isn't your front sight, it's your background.”
Close-Range Combat: True Dynamics
It should be obvious that for the defense-minded civilian, conflicts involving firearms are mostly extensions of general interpersonal conflict and criminal assault. Arguments, assaults and criminal predation don't usually start from 25 yards, or even 7 yards. Criminals need to be close to you in order to do what they want to do, and most recidivist offenders have become pretty good at getting to where they need to be before tipping their hand. Arms' length distance, or at most across a room of your home or business (or any business you may frequent that is targeted by criminals while you're there), is the norm rather than the exception for a civilian (which includes law enforcement, as only members of the military are non-civilians).
Because available time and options reduce as distance decreases, and because the odds that even an untrained criminal will “get lucky” are highest at point-blank range (note that a recent major study revealed that cop killers train far more often and more realistically than typical cops), it behooves the armed citizen to devote most of his or her training time and effort to dealing with the true dynamics of this most critical and most likely scenario.
And it is those “true dynamics” of reactive close quarters gunfighting that make action competition-based training methods wholly unsuitable.
These gunfights erupt at the distances where beatings, stabbings, strong arm robberies, abductions, rapes and home invasions occur—because those are the situations the armed citizen is trying to prevent by being armed!
Therefore, the psychological and physical dynamics of this type of gunfight more strongly resemble those of all-out unarmed or contact weapon combat than they do those of any shooting match.
You Never Know What You're Dealing With
Murderers and rapists don't tell you in advance whether you're going to be in a gunfight, or a fistfight or knife fight for that matter. It's a FIGHT for your LIFE on someone else's terms and schedule and you need to train yourself to adapt, move and bring your best weapons to bear as quickly as possible to end the threat and escape before being overwhelmed and possibly having your weapons taken from you.
Your movement will be more instinctual and fight-or-flight-response-driven than refined and intellectually driven. You may know the best positions, movements and techniques to assure optimum marksmanship and speed under the pressure and dynamics of an action shooting match, but your lower brain will quickly recognize the fact that you're in a very different situation and will accordingly prompt action before you're consciously able to figure much out. We're hardwired to focus on and move away from danger. This is why we constantly see even highly trained competitive shooters “revert” to crouching, spastic backpedalling and “dodging” and single-handed cyclic rate unsighted shooting when faced with an enemy muzzle at near contact distance. Your body won't allow you to attain a static, upright stance and focus on your front sight once it sees the enemy's lethally threatening movement mere feet and split seconds away. Just as your body would instinctively try to avoid a thrown object or strike, it focuses on and tries to avoid an enemy muzzle being brought to bear. Two hands often can't be brought to your weapon as practiced because at least one is outstretched or moving to help maintain balance during your ballistic avoidance motion, or is being used to shield against or disrupt the threat.
Hand-to-hand Training PLUS Intuitive Shooting
Your training needs to account for these dynamics and work with them, rather than against them. Therefore, your training needs to include point shooting or “intuitive” shooting, seamlessly combined with unarmed combat, as there is no guarantee you'll already have gun in hand when violence commences, or indeed that you'll ever be able to get to it at all. Fortunately, in terms of unarmed combat and reactive close quarters gun fighting to deal with criminal violence, good training for one reinforces the other, as the movement dynamics and required physical and mental attributes are necessarily the same, e.g. awareness, balance, muscular efficiency, whole body coordination, physical and mental freedom of action, and moral will to prevail. See http://www.attackproof.com/ for more information on how to develop combative attributes.
In order for a weapon to be suitable for this type of engagement, it must be:
- Constantly available, meaning carryable and concealable at all times. Again, criminals do not typically email you their intentions in advance, giving you time to go home, unlock your safe and retrieve your favorite blaster!
- Reliable and durable under extreme circumstances. In a close quarters fight, your weapon likely won't be fired from a static, stable, upright stance. It may be fired at strange angles, while spastically moving, in a suboptimal grip. During the fight it may be struck or otherwise disrupted. Regardless, it has to work.
- Simple and intuitive to operate. Under extreme fight-or-flight effects, your body is best prepared to use any hand-held object as a striking or throwing weapon. It will already be an accomplishment of nurture over nature to actually SHOOT THE GUN, so it's best to keep things as simple as possible to accomplish that, regardless of time in training.
- Quick to grip and draw. When split seconds count and your body is instinctively moving at reflex speed (i.e. the speed at which your hand will pull away from a sudden flame), any additional movement, effort and time required to get a secure grip on an ill-fitting gun and clear snags during the draw is a recipe for disaster.
- Well fit to your hand and naturally pointable. While it is somewhat possible to adapt to an ill-fitting gun through extensive training and practice, things are just easier and faster and less likely to fall apart under lethal threat if the tool and user are well matched from the beginning. This increases the user's confidence as well.
- Shootable and controllable enough for you to keep multiple rounds on target at cyclic speed (i.e. as fast as you can pull the trigger) at close range, with one hand
- Powerful enough to consistently penetrate a big guy's vital organs through commonly worn clothing from all angles with expanding bullets. Within the major combat calibers (including 9x19mm through .45 ACP), this is largely a matter of diligent ammunition selection. More attention should probably be paid to consistently deep penetration, resistance to deflection, consistently reliable expansion and destructive expanded bullet shape than to initial and expanded bullet size or cavitation. Of course, the selected ammunition should not disrupt requirement #6 above.
A Kahr Pistol + Adaptive Shooting = Survival
The Kahr series of pistols fits the above criteria for most people. From the larger T and TP pistols through the mid-size K and P pistols down to the smallest MK and PM pistols, the basic Kahr design is reliable, durable, simple, slick and adaptable to various people's concealment, hand fit and shootability needs through its various size and caliber (9x19mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, as well as .380 ACP for deep concealment/backup) permutations.
In a fight for your life against criminal assault, you need instantaneous, intuitive spine-shot/head-shot accuracy from contact to seven yards (or as far as you can manage) against wildly moving multiple targets while YOU are focusing on the threats, dodging, moving, drawing, hitting, pushing, evading and protecting your weapon at reflex speed, on your feet and on the ground—without shooting yourself!
Many have succeeded, and failed, with less. It behooves us to consider worst-case scenarios and prepare accordingly to the best of our ability.
Anything less constitutes a “strategy of hope”: hope that YOUR attackers will be so accommodating that they'll allow you to put basic marksmanship or competition-based training to use, and you'll be “cool” enough to do it when your life is in imminent danger…
Stay tuned for more articles on:
- Concealed Carry
- Gunfighting Grip and Trigger Pull
- Home Defense
- Other Weapons in the Gunfight
The Buffalo News – New York gun makers in a squeeze: stay or go?
The Buffalo News | September 7, 2013
Kahr® to sponsor Executive Protection International Conference
September 3, 2013
Pearl River, NY – USA based Kahr Firearms Group is pleased to announce their sponsorship of the second annual Executive Protection International Conference (EPIC) in San Antonio, Texas December 5-7. The event is co-sponsored by the Executive Protection Institute (EPI), America's oldest and most celebrated name in personal protection and bodyguard training. The EPIC conference has become the largest gathering of public and private protectors attracting bodyguards and Personal Protection Specialists (PPS) from around the world.
Kahr Firearms Group will also donate a Kahr 9mm pistol as a raffle for the pre-conference “EP Speed Steel Challenge and Competition” which will benefit the Texas ASSIST Fallen Officer Fund, which provides benefits to Private Security Officers killed in the line of duty.
>> Executive Protection International Conference (EPIC) 2013
>> Executive Protection Institute (EPI)
Kahr® Requests Company Information Change from Wikipedia
July 23, 2013
Pearl River, NY – Kahr Firearms Group has changed their Wikipedia information to correct misinformation used to describe the corporation.
Currently, Wikipedia lists inaccurate information with regard to the history and ownership of Kahr Firearms Group. The corporation would like to go on record that the Kahr Firearms Group was founded in 1994 by Justin Moon. Mr. Moon is the sole owner of the firearms group which includes Kahr Arms, Magnum Research and Auto-Ordnance. Kahr Firearms Group is a $75-$100 million corporation which employs 250 employees between its Pearl River, NY corporation office, Worcester, MA and Pillager, MN manufacturing plants along with several captive CNC machine shops also owned by the corporation.
Kahr® Firearms Group Plans Major Expansion in Pennsylvania
July 1, 2013
Pearl River, NY – Kahr Firearms Group is engaged in discussions with a development group representing Blooming Grove Township of Pike County Pennsylvania, to open a new manufacturing site and relocate the Kahr corporate office from New York to Pennsylvania. Kahr’s corporate offices are currently located in Rockland County in Pearl River, New York.
Kahr's plans include the purchase of 620 acres of commercial real estate from the Pike County Industrial Park Development Group/Business Development Corporation. The first step in the multi-phased plan will begin with site preparation and office construction as early as late this year. This will be followed by the relocation of company corporate offices and the research and development department. In the second phase, manufacturing operations will be expanded to the Pike County location to meet the increasing demand for its Kahr Arms, Thompson, Auto-Ordnance, and Magnum Research product lines.
The Kahr Group of manufacturing plants, operating at full capacity, will continue production in their current locations in Worcester, MA and Pillager, MN.
“We are grateful for the warm welcome and the business opportunity extended by the Pike County Industrial Park Development Group/Business Development Corporation to expand our company and relocate its headquarters office,” stated VP of Sales and Marketing, Frank Harris. “The Pennsylvania group has demonstrated tremendous support of our operations and Kahr looks to move forward with the project without delay. It's good for our business and also for other businesses in the area as we build a long-term mutually beneficial relationship with the community. We anticipate generating significant numbers of revenue and jobs for the local Northeastern Pennsylvania economy with the construction of facilities, expansion of manufacturing, and need for local vendors.”
Kahr® Across America Facebook Contest Announced
June 4, 2013
Pearl River, NY – The demands on manufacturing during the past five years has been extremely challenging for the entire firearm industry. But, out of high demand comes growth. Sometime in the near future, Kahr Firearms Group will expand their manufacturing operations outside of New York, Massachusetts and Minnesota and they invite the public to join them in selecting a new location.
Beginning June 17, Kahr will kick-off the “Kahr Across America Giveaway” through Facebook. To enter, visit www.facebook.com/KahrArms and then first, “Like” the page, then register to submit your entry. Contestants may enter only once and can nominate only one state for Kahr Firearms Group to consider for their upcoming expansion. The giveaway runs June 17-30 and one winner will be selected to win one (1) Kahr firearm and holster of their choice. Custom and/or engraved Kahr pistols are not included in the Giveaway.
If you are a fan of the quality and performance of Kahr's complete line of 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, now is your opportunity to win a gun of your choice.
Check out Kahr® Firearms Group full page ad in the Rolling Thunder special edition section of the Washington Times. This Memorial Day Special edition supports Rolling Thunder in their mission to bring home and never forget our POWs and MIAs.
May 23, 2013 | The Washington Times, Section D
Kahr® Firearms Group Takes Action to Support Gun Rights
April 8, 2013
Pearl River, NY – In an effort to address the many political challenges the firearm industry has been dealt the past few months, Justin Moon, on behalf of the Kahr Firearms Group, has stepped forwarded to make generous donations in support of three critically important groups – The NRA Firearms Civil Rights Defense Fund, NRA Freedom Action Foundation and the NSSF PAC.
In a statement from Frank Harris, VP, Sales and Marketing, Kahr Firearms Group, Harris stated, “Our CEO and Founder, Justin Moon, feels strongly that educating society and voters regarding the history and background of the Second Amendment is crucial to the survival of our nation as a constitutional republic. Current events, which brought on the onset of many restrictive new gun laws, do not provide a safer society, but rather they only infringe on the rights of responsible gun owners and violate the principles established by our Founding Fathers. The NRA and the NSSF are leading the charge in this fight for our freedoms and Kahr Firearms Group is honored to be able to support them.”
The NRA Firearms Civil Rights Defense Fund (CRDF), in support of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association's (NYSRPA) has a pending lawsuit challenging the Cuomo Gun Ban. Kahr Arms joins other New York based firearm companies in this fight.
The NRA Freedom Action Foundation leads the charge to educate and register a new generation of voters who support Second Amendment freedoms and our hunting heritage.
The NSSF PAC is a non-partisan, multi-candidate; Federal Election Commission registered political action committee of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The NSSF PAC supports pro-industry, pro-Second Amendment and pro-sportsmen candidates seeking election or re-election to Federal office.
Gun Policy & Law Enforcement: Survey Results
PoliceOne.com – PoliceOne’s Gun Policy & Law Enforcement survey was conducted between March 4 and March 13, 2013, receiving 15,595 responses from verified police professionals across all ranks and department sizes.
Kahr® Arms Wins Lawsuit against Diamondback Firearms
April 2, 2013
Pearl River, NY – On Thursday, March 25th, a jury in Florida found Diamondback Firearms guilty of patent infringement of Kahr Arms' (Saeilo, Inc.) patent number 5,502,914. The lawsuit filed in 2011, states that Diamondback Firearms infringed upon the patent by using Kahr’s exclusive cocking cam trigger system into their own firearms.
Currently, Kahr holds seven U.S. patents for their exclusive locking, firing, and extraction systems. The cocking cam trigger system employs a patented cam to both unlock the passive safety and complete cocking and releasing of the firing pin. The system provides a “safe cam action” and a smooth double action only trigger stroke. The cocking cam trigger system patent was granted to Kahr Arms founder Justin Moon on April 2, 1996. This design is found on all Kahr firearms.
The court not only ruled that Diamondback Firearms had infringed on the patent, but also that the patent is valid and uniquely belongs to Kahr Arms.
Kahr® Arms Introduces the CW380 ACP Pistol
January 2013
CW3833
Pearl River, NY – Kahr is proud to introduce the latest addition to their double-action micro-compact pistol product line – the Kahr CW380. The new .380 ACP caliber is substantially smaller than Kahr's popular PM9, and because of the weight and diminutive size, it is an ideal concealed carry pistol.
The CW380 pistol has a 2.58 inch barrel, an overall length of 4.96 inches and a height of just 3.9 inches. It weighs just 10.2 ounces without a magazine. The pistol has a black polymer frame and features 4140 steel inserts molded into the front and back of the frame for added rigidity. It has a machined, solid 416 matte stainless steel slide and a textured polymer grip.
The Kahr CW380 features a lock breech, modified Browning type recoil lug, and utilizes Kahr's seven patents including the "safe cam" action found in all Kahr pistols. The result is a micro-compact pistol with very little recoil and quick follow-up shots. The pistol features drift adjustable white bar-dot combat rear sight and pinned-in polymer front sight.
Differences between the Kahr CW380 and Kahr P380 models include: the CW series has a conventional rifled barrel instead of the match grade polygonal barrel found on P models; the CW slide stop lever is MIM (metal-injection-molded) instead of machined; the CW series slide has fewer machining operations, and uses simple engraved markings instead of roll marking; the P380 comes with two magazines, but the CW series comes with one 6 rd steel magazine with flush baseplate. Lastly, the slide locks back after firing the last round – another feature missing on a number of other value-priced compact semi-auto pistols. The durability and reliability of the CW380 model makes it a strong consideration as a backup gun for law enforcement.
The MSRP on the Kahr CW380 is $419.
