A few pistols with slides bearing the "R9s" and "Farmingdale" engravings were sent in for service after the factory's move and received new slides engraved "R9" and "Deer Park." These are the so-called "Deerdales." There aren't many "Deerdales" out there and that rarity alone makes them attractive to some collectors. However, since the R9s are not issued in strict serial-number order, the only way to identify a "Deerdale" is to know its history.
Richard, I say this with all due respect to a long time forum member, but I disagree with your perceived notion that a “Deerdale” is somehow more collectable than a properly marked R9s Farmingdale.
As a Rohrbaugh collector a “Deerdale” is my own personal worst nightmare – sorry to any Deerdale owners out there. It means a gun that was at one point a Farmingdale production gun, and marked as such, was sent into the factory and was returned with a slide now marked “Deer Park” usually with the new (ugly) block text. If I wanted to I am sure I could send all my Farmingdales into the Factory for re-warranty or something and there is a good chance they would come back with new “Deer Park” slides – this is NOT what you want!
My own personal view of a collectable Rohrbaugh is as follows, with the more of the following features making it more collectable and thus more valuable:
1. Silver Frame
2. No R Prefix serial number – the earlier the better
3. Slide marked “R9s” if the gun has sights
4. Farmingdale, NY engraved on the slide
5. Factory original Blue carbon Fiber grips
The more of these the better!
This gun appears to have 3 of the 5 criteria making it very collectable, as it is farily rare for a R-prefix gun to be marked R9s. The only guns that would be more desirable would be a silver frame or Pre R prefix gun with the same configuration, or both a silver frame, pre R prefix gun.
I think the $1,800 is a very fair price point if the gun is indeed marked Farmingdale and R9s. Good luck with the sale and as was stated above good pictures would help sell this gun.
V/R,
Ryan
