Early R9s

[LMETMORT]

Newbie here, but have been an owner for a number of years, and have just purchased another.  Question I have is that the first R9 I bought was number R257 with black CF grips. I have just come across number R283. which I bought, but it has the blue CF grips, any idea how this could be. I know the first one was NIB, the second is used, but in great shape, would the 283  have to have had the grips changed out or are these 2 numbers right around the change over from blue to black,  thanks in advance for any info
Larry M

[BlueC2]

Larry,

Congrats on the new pup! I am going to assume that you bought the number #283 that was on GB this last week and was being discussed in this thread: http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/index.php?topic=6543.0 in the Water Cooler section. If it is the same gun you got a great deal!

I will do my best to answer your question about the grips. All the guns produced up to around approximately R500 had the BLUE CF grips. If you have R257 with Black CF grips you have a rare gun and probably got some prototype BLACK CF grips. If you search around you can read more about the details regarding the change of color but my understanding is that the grip manufacturer could not get the blue in the CF consistent enough and they decided to switch to all black CF. They produced Black CF grips up through around R1500 or so. There are also two different types of black CF grips. The earlier black CF grips (which I am sure you have) do not have the diagonal weave pattern that the newer black CFs have.

Overall they made approximately 600 guns with Blue CFs and about 1000 with black CFs.

If you can post pictures of your guns I am sure others can offer more detailed information. Enjoy the new pup and now you have one of each.

-Ryan

[LMETMORT]

I did get that one on GB, with the Blue CF.  I thought $900 was a fair price, because I think I paid that for my first one a number of years ago. Interesting that the the older one with the black CF may be rarer that the one that I just bought. Thanks for info.

[LMETMORT]

I'll post some pix when I get 283 in my hand. Thanks again

[LMETMORT]

GB seller was kind enough to send over a picture of 283, 257 is here too.

[LMETMORT]

The 283 as is my 257 is a Deer park.  257 written in old english, 283 written in regular block print. 

[BlueC2]

Larry,

After seeing the pictures and hearing the manufacturing location on each slide here are my theories about each gun:

#R257
It is fairly well known from earlier posts on the forum that the guns did not always leave the factory in order of serial number. I believe that this gun while it has a very early frame with numbers consistent with operations in Farmingdale, NY for some reason left the factory after they had moved to Deer Park. Especially since it has the newer style black CF grips which are more commonly found on guns in the ~900-1500SN range. I believe this to be the original slide because of the Old English Deer Park text. A very nice gun and probably one of the lowest, if not the lowest serial numbered original Deer Park gun out there.

#R283
This is your classic "Deerdale" (Deer Park + Farmingdale) This was most likely originally a Farmingdale, NY slide since it has Blue CF grips. I'm guessing that for one reason or another the owner sent it back to Rohrbaugh and it came back with a brand new Deer Park block text slide. This has happened to many form members who either sent the gun in to have a problem fixed or to just to get the gun re-warrantied. I think at some point Rohrbaugh made a design change that was not significant enough to issue a product recall for the early slides but is significant enough that most likely for liability reasons they decided to replace all the old slides if the guns are ever sent back to the factory. So as a word of caution - dont ever send your prized Farmingdale back to the factory if you do not want to chance having it come back with a new Deer Park slide.  To be perfectly honest with you I think the GB seller knew exactly what he had and was kind of a slime ball for not disclosing it all up front. Both Brendan and I wrote to him and asked for the SN, manufacturing location and if the gun was marked R9 or R9s. He only responded with the SN to both of us - which is a red flag. He also did not include any pictures clear enough to see any of the features that are important to collectors - now we know why. With all that said $900 is a very fair price for a Rohrbaugh with Blue CF grips, and if you are going to carry and use the gun it is good that it does have a brand new slide and has been gone over by Rohrbaugh. If you purchased this as a collector piece unfortunately it has some issues.

Hope this helps and sorry for any bad news.

-Ryan

[LMETMORT]

This helps a lot, and really not bad news at all. I was looking for one to keep in the safe ( My 257 has seen very little carry) and one to carry. Should I carry the 283 but  put G-10 grips on it and save the Blue CF grips ? Should I put the Blue CF on my ealier model and keep it as a safe queen to give to my son ?   What's your opinion.

I have seen some posts regarding Farmingdale slide issues, could this been possibly the case, as you mentioned in a possible warranty issue ?

I guess I am more impressed that the 257 is more of a collector piece than the 283 . Since I own the item now, I'll send the seller a note and maybe get the real deal on this one. (R283)

Thanks again for all the input. I''ve been more of a 1911 fan, but these pups have always attracted my attention, they are truly a well made beautiful piece.

[BlueC2]

My opinion would be to put the all original R257 in the safe and carry R283 that was recently tuned up by Rohrbaugh. What to do with the Blue CFs is up to you - I would make sure to keep R257 all original and having a pair of Blue CFs to go with it would always be very attractive to collectors. With that said the CF grips are tough and I think you would be fine carrying R283 with the Blue CFs and wouldnt really damage them. Enjoy the pups!

-Ryan

[LMETMORT]

Thanks C2 appreciate it.

So I called Rohrbaugh and talked to a rep and as you described R283 was sent to Rohrbaugh about a year ago and they put a new slide on it. It was a deerpark gun originally, so the old english script slide was changed out to new block lettering one. Since it looks like I'll be carrying this one, it's probably better off with the new slide.

Thanks again.

[Richard S]

Larry:

Ryan has covered all the bases so I'll just welcome you to the Club with congratulation on your "abundance of riches."

[LMETMORT]

Thanks Richard, appreciate the welcome, Truly a great group of members

[LMETMORT]

OK, being somewhat new to this formum, I have owned R257 for a number of years, I have just been watching for other Pups out in the market place. Of what I can tell the Deer park guns started with a number close to my R257. Since I now have R283 ( Blue CF, It has a new deerpark slide that was replaced by the previous owner about a year ago and as per Maria at Rohrbaugh, it was a Deer park gun to begin with.....Whew, that was a long sentence)!!

How can a gun on Gunbroker (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=311776750)  with the serial number of  R545 and black CF grips be a Farmingdale gun.  Is it just the slide that is the desireable as the BlueCF grips are  as opposed to a low number frame ?

[tracker]

I own no. 7XX that was a Farmingdale with black CF grips. When the factory moved to Deer Park there were still a lot of Farmingdale slides. You cannot place a no. between Farmingdale, Deer Park, and black or blue grips with any degree of accuracy during the transition period.

[ehb86]

Since Blue C2 referenced early Deer Parks I thought I'd mention in case it's of interest I have R252, with an old english style Deer Park slide and black diagonal laminate cf grips. It's my every day gun (mostly).

I don't think grip styles are very reliable indicators of much of anything unless you've owned the gun from new. People were buying and selling/trading the grips a lot early on. I have another on in the low 280'3 and it has a Farmingdale slide, as Tracker implied I too think there was a lot of mixing and matching going on in the beginning.