Rohm rg-31

[Bw2k2000]

Hello all, My friend and I are going to the Colorado School of Trades next year and we are looking for firearms to take. Today he call and told me that he just got a 38. special. We really don't know anything about this pistol except that it has RG Industries Miami Florida on it. the serial number is #XXX4744. We would like any Information on this pistol that you all can provide. Place of birth, year, value, you know, the usual.
Thank you

 

[pcwirepro]

Do a search for "Revolving Garbage"

 

[wow6599]

They make great paperweights.
And yeah, I've owned one (given to me).

 

[jimmyraythomason]

As long as it is in time and locks up solidly when cocked and goes bang when you pull the trigger, it will do what it is designed to do safely. As to value-acceptable practical value-little resale value.

 

[dfariswheel]

To sum up, the RG was a bottom-of-the-barrel Saturday Night Special grade pistol made to sell at the lowest price possible.
The joke back then was that RG stood for "Rotten Gun".

The guns were manufactured by the Rohm Company in Sontheim an der Brenz, Germany during the 1960's and 70's.
They were imported into the US by a number of importers.
After Federal gun control laws stopped importation of cheap pot metal guns, RG Industries of Florida imported parts and assembled them here.
RG of Florida was literally sued out of business for bad quality.

Rohm of Germany stopped producing real guns and started making "gas guns" which fire a tear gas cartridge of dubious effectiveness.

What few parts are available are from Gun Parts Corporation who have limited parts.

I suspect that if you show up at school with an RG, the instructors and other students are liable to laugh you out of the place. In any case, you'll never hear the end of it.

At best, value is in the $35 to $100 range.

 

[Iggy]

Whut Dfariswheel sed. I suspect that if you show up at school with an RG, the instructors and other students are liable to laugh you out of the place. In any case, you'll never hear the end of it.

Don't take your gun to school son, Leave your gun at home son, don't take your gun to school

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I just picked up a box of Winchester PDX1 .38SPL+P for my RG40. The stuff is expensive so I've only put 4 rounds down the pipe so far to confirm acceptable accuracy, but its already eaten ~50 rounds of speer +P without excess wear (that includes any form of explosion, cracking, barrel flying off, etc). Gelatin tests soon to come on those!

As long as it is in time and locks up solidly when cocked and goes bang when you pull the trigger, it will do what it is designed to do safely. As to value-acceptable practical value-little resale value.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

RG's excell as "Carry a lot, shoot a little" firearms, especially when you can get a hold of one for around $50. Make sure the gun functions, fire a box of rounds to test accuracy, and a box every few months to maintain proficiency and familiarity, and it will be there for you should you ever need it.

As to the OP's question, I would NOT bring it to a gunsmithing school as a tool to learn on.

1.They are harder to work on because they really aren't meant to be taken apart much.

2. Parts are hard to find. Numrich has them but who knows when that supply will dry up. I.E., don't buy up those parts, I'll need them later for my gun!


3. RG's tend to garner sneers and disapproving head-shakes from gun snubs and those who just don't know any better. If you want mad street cred, leave the RG at home.

Heres the gunpartscorp page on the RG31, schematic and parts list.

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Products.aspx?catid=8739

 

[Bw2k2000]

Thanks for the info, I will let my buddy know and hopefully he won't take it.