Next month Kahr will being shipping the 9mm Kahr CM9 subcompact pistol. The pistol is a smaller framed version of the relatively cheaper Kahr CW series. The CM9 has a 3″ barrel, 0.6″ shorter than the CW series barrels and the same size and the PM series.

Kahr describe the CM9 as “value priced”. The cost savings have been achieved by using a conventional rifled barrel instead of the match grade polygonal barrel used by the PM series pistols, the slide stop lever is metal-injection-molded instead of machined, the slide has fewer machining operations and the slide has simpler engraved markings rather than roll markings.

The MSRP for the Kahr CM9 is just $565. The basic PM9 pistol has an MSRP of $837.

I don’t think that the majority of customers will miss the premium features that the CM9 lacks. Kahr are having to complete with the cheaper offerings from companies like Ruger, whose Ruger LC9 has an MSRP of just $443, almost half the cost of the PM9.