The CW45 model is a semi-automatic, striker-fired locked-breech designs, relying on a dropping-barrel system which is a modification of the Browning system with a lug just above the chamber locking the barrel into the roof of the slide.
However, the trigger is designated as the DAO what means the double-action, only by the manufacturer, the CW45 operation is very similar to the Glock, Springfield Armory XD or S&W M&P. Truly double-action only triggers are designed to thoroughly cock and fire a pistol, allowing a re-fire operation on a miss-fired round without racking the slide. Like the other models mentioned before, the Kahr triggers utilize a slide-assisted cocking action that removes much of its weight and length of the trigger pull.
The result of the trigger design is not able to cock the striker on its own, that is practically more like a single-action trigger. The CW45 model is chambered with the 45 Automatic ammunition which is today the most powerful military handgun cartridge. It’s a really heavy and powerful sub-sonic round which velocity and bullet weight enable to create a steep trajectory curve which limits its effective range to self-defense distances. Basically, there are no external safety devices on this model.
It gives the weapon a smooth, snag-free exterior, that is a very positive feature on a handgun meant to be drawn from concealment. Breech locking of this pistol is accomplished by the barrel hood bearing on the front edge of the ejection port. Actually, upon the firing, its slide moves rearward and a cam on the barrel lug pulls the barrel down, unlocking it from the slide, that continues rearward, ejecting and extracting the spent case. A recoil spring, which is located on a full-length guide rod just under the barrel, pulls the slide forward, stripping a round from the magazine, and also chambering it. As the slide goes into the battery, the barrel and slide are locked together by the barrel hood moving up into the ejection port.
