Rohrbaugh hits a milestone -- R5000!

[DDGator]

Presenting the first public photo of a Rohrbaugh milestone -- the raw frame for R5000!  This will offically be the 5,000th R-9 produced!  Wow!



This gun is awaiting some very special treatment from Karl--who is still deciding on the details.  I am assured that it will be quite special.

The ultimate plans for this gun are still up in the air, but it MAY be placed up for sale at some point, with the proceeds going to a charitable cause.  Please DON'T swamp the factory with calls on this gun!  If and when it will be going up for sale, I will publish all the details.

Kudos to Karl and his team for putting out 5,000 R-9s!  A great cause for celebration at the factory.

[ccoorreeyy]

I know some of us are thinking it so i'll go ahead and say it.  I wonder how close R5000 really is to being the 5000th gun produced.  Since they made "X" amount of guns pre-r and then started back over with R100.  I guess it really don't matter does it.  

That being said, I would LOVE to have R5000 and hope to have a chance when/if it goes up for sale.  I have some nice blue CF's waiting for it!  

[tracker]

Let's say it is 5000; would any entrepreneurs care to venture a guess on the net profit margin per piece times 5000 over six years?

[ccoorreeyy]

Maybe just enough to pay off one CNC machine.

[DDGator]

Even if it was $500 per gun (which you know is not even possible), that ain't much to keep a company running for 6+ years.  This is a labor of love for those involved...

[yankee2500]

Maybe just enough to pay off one CNC machine.

And all the R&D costs, Attorney fees, patent fees, insurance, utilities, materials, on and on, bla bla bla
  All the time that Karl and Eric put in from day one probably equates to making minimum wage.
 In my mind they have more than earned whatever they have made.

John

[yankee2500]

I just want to be the first in line, in writing.
  Will trade Seecamp 380, Ruger Charger with Archangel stock, Rafter S Elephant OWB holster, 2 boxes of 380 acp Silvertips,
one G-36 mag extension, one takedown tool for R9, non working RCA remote and a mixed breed dog, blind in one eye and (needs rabies shot) for Rohrbaugh # R5000  

John

[kjtrains]

Good luck, on that one, John!    

[Richard S]

Five thousand and counting! That is fantastic news.

I remember the exact moment when I was following events at SHOT 2000 and happened to see a photograph of the R9 prototype. My pocket pistol at the time was one of the NAA Guardian .380s, which had replaced a Guardian .32, which had replaced a Colt Mustang, which had replaced a Walther PPK, which takes the story back to the 1960s and my first pocket pistol carried as a backup to a 1911. One look at the R9 prototype with its specifications was all it took to convince me that the R9 was the pocket pistol for which I had been searching all of my adult life. I called the factory, spoke to Eric, and began a two-year wait while Team Rohrbaugh geared up for the transition from prototype to production.

It all came together in May 2004 when R9 132 was delivered to my FFL. I can still remember my reaction when I opened the box and saw it there wearing its blue CF grips. I'm not easily impressed, but that first look at my R9 took my breath away for a moment. And when I took it to hand, I suddenly had a crowd around me at the front of the counter. The dealer's wife also came out of the office to join her husband behind the display case. I also recall her comment when she saw the R9 and asked to hold it: "Clint, you will get me one of these."

No. 132 has been with me ever since.

Congratulations to Karl, Eric, Maria, and the rest of Team Rohrbaugh. Five thousand and counting . . . .

[DDGator]

I knew the "actual number" question would come up.  If memory serves, there were 47 pre-R prefix guns.  There were also a few custom serial number guns -- less than five I think.

The R- prefix guns started with R100, but Karl has R1 and Eric has R2.  The other frames were actually produced and are sitting in a safe somewhere, so... truth is the real number of "official" R-9 guns is 5,000, plus or minus a few custom serial numbers.  Most of the first 100 are still in "reserve" for future use but they exist.

[yankee2500]

I can see the headline in "The Fammingdale Chronicle"

  Georgia man arrested for breakin at local gun manufacturer

Last night there was a breakin at the Rohrbaugh manufacturing facility.  No firearms taken, just some unassembled pistol frames and carbon fiber grips were found to be in possession of the suspect. A full inventory will be conducted to determine if anything else was taken.
   The suspects name is being withheld pending charges.

John

[yankee2500]

Duane,
   Good info, and my congratulations to Eric and Karl and the entire staff, for providing us with this fine firearm.

John

[DDGator]

I was fortunate enough to see some of the stuff that resides in that safe...  Wow.   The collectability was mind-blowing!

[kjtrains]

You know, just been thinking;  with the milestone of the R5000 and it's special treatments and with all the folks who are going to want it, I think it will be hard to get, at whatever price Rohrbaugh sets; and with the proceeds going to a charitable cause.

This is definitely going to be something to look forward to and will be fun antisipating the outcome.

[Brenden]

Duane,
Thanks for sharing the pic!!

I am sure the Rs safe does' hold some nice things!!

5K...Wow..That is a milestone that has taken awhile for sure..