[hk45]

hello all i tried the search feature and couldn't find anything and i haven't had much luck searching google so hopefully someone on here can help. my grandfather just pass on and we found a rohm rg38 special in his drawer. i am trying to find out more information on it i.e. year made, quality of gun, and any other helpful information. the serial number on the bottom of the gun is 12299 it is a six shot with a three inch barrel, it is double action. the barrel has rohm gmbh sowtheim/brz which i assume has something to do with the manufacturer and it says made in germany on the barrell. it has the letter "m" or "w" just aft of the trigger. there are two of them one in front of the other. any information would be helpful. thanks in advance

[canebrake]

Here's some info:

Found this quote on another gun forum:

"The history of Rohm began in Bulgaria where goats were bred to have muscular intestines. These goats were fed ferrous and alloy scrap metal and kept in huge mountainous pastures. Each day afterwards, the peasant farmers would gather Rohm revolvers among the toadstools."

IIRC, I think it was a Rohm .22 pistol that was used to shoot President Reagan. (Those bastards!)

Rohm RG38 Made in Germany .38 Special Revolver : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

ROHM RG 38 SPEC DOUBLE ACTION 4" : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

ROHM RG 38 SPEC DOUBLE ACTION 4" : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

ROHM 38 Spezial - The Firearms Forum.Com

[robocop10mm]

The RG stands for "Real Garbage". They were the guns that coined the phrase Saturday Night Special. Value? About what it cost new - $25

[hk45]

so is the gun safe to fire or any way i can find out when it was made.

[c3shooter]

so is the gun safe to fire

I can't tell- you are holding the gun too far away from the computer.

Seriously, it will take a smith to determine IF it is safe to shoot.
The Rohm, aka RG, was made in Germany, was of low cost and quality. The worst were the 22 shorts, which were identical to the blank pistols except for a bored thru barrel. The gmbh is German abbreviation for corporation (I think it is Gemeinshaft, but has been too long to recall) The gun control act stopped imporatation of many of these handguns into the US- some would nto meet limits on size, weight, or melting point (some had frames that were basically pot metal)

Some WERE better than others- not awe inspriring- just better. Have a smith take a look at it.

[1861]

I would not have fired it when it was new .

[hk45]

well thanks for the replys i should have known that this gun wasn't very good since i have never even heard of them. my grandmother and the rest of the family don't want to get rid of it since it was my grandfathers and i know they won't ever use it so i will just put it in a good hiding place for them.

[stalkingbear]

Keep the gun around as a wall hanger and in remembrance of your granddad. It's not worth trying to shoot, and was of very poor quality made. I think even miller will agree with me on this.

[diggsbakes]

Definitely a wall art gun. You could even get a small glass case to frame it in. If you try to shoot it you will probably end up ruining it or hurting yourself.

[WILDCATT]

I had one to repair, it was a western style they lost the ejector unit.Their still shooting it thats 4 yrs ago.numrich cat has part list.they were made in the 60s.they are made of die castings with steel insert in barrel.just put it up for its history.