Kahr Arms has long emphasized small autos in 9mm and .40 S&W until--in 2006--it introduced the P45 in .45 ACP. Now it has lengthened the barrel and added another round to the magazine of the P45 to create the polymer-framed TP45, and like other Kahrs, it is a double-action-only, striker-fired, locked-breech, recoil-operated action. With, of course, the characteristic smooth but long Kahr trigger pull.
The matte stainless steel slide is nicely finished with rounded edges and cocking serrations at the rear to provide a good gripping surface. Two metal inserts at the rear of the rails and two on the front inside the dustcover provide solid, long-lasting surfaces to reinforce the guide rails on which the slide reciprocates, thus increasing service life while adding only miniscule weight to the polymer frame.
The front- and backstraps are aggressively checkered for a positive grip, and the grip angle is the same as that of the M1911, making the gun point very naturally. The pistol grip is often the most difficult part of a handgun to conceal, and the length of this one pretty much rules it out as a pocket pistol--unless you've got a big pocket. Yet this gun is narrow and flat, making it a good choice for people large enough to hide the seven-round-capacity pistol grip under their clothing. The barrel is a hair over four inches long, preserving most of the ballistic effectiveness of the .45 ACP. Overall length is about 61⁄2 inches, height is 51⁄4 inches, and the gun weighs 23.2 ounces empty.
The slide catch is on the left side of the frame above the trigger and is nearly impossible to operate while an empty magazine holds the catch in the locked position. That's OK in my book because when a loaded magazine is inserted, the catch works fine. The magazine-release button is on the grip just aft of the triggerguard, and the magazine well is slightly beveled to aid in fast magazine changes.
The long, smooth trigger pull is in no way a hindrance to accurate shooting.
The first eighth-inch of takeup is extremely light and is followed by a half-inch second stage that broke at just under seven pounds on the test gun. However, it was so smooth that it seemed much lighter, and I could perceive no stacking as it approached the break point.
The TP45's stainless steel barrel is polygonally rifled with a 1:16.38-inch right-hand twist. Polygonal rifling is not new and has advantages. It's easier to clean than standard rifling and allows greater velocity without increasing chamber pressures.
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