What do we know about Rohm pistols!

[zooma]

When I returned to air pistol shooting just a few years ago, I was surprised to see so many Rohm pistols in use, they had become very popular since my days with the FWB Models 65 and 80 etc
They looked to be really good for the money and capable of producing some impressive groupings and so many were used until funds allowed the purchase of more expensive and better made types to replace them, but they did a good job in providing a “first target pistol” at an affordable price.

Suddenly they were “no more” and ceased to be available amid various rumours as to why Rohm stopped production.

As far as I know, they were "bought-up" and became part of the Umarex group and so funding was not likely to be the cause, but rumours persisted that sales were being lost to Rohm from a sister budget range. This budget range was Hammerli (previously a very prestigious brand until destroyed by fire whose name is now owned and used by Umerex for what are basically budget Walthers).

Unlike the “stand alone” designs of Rohm, some production could be shared between the budget Hammerli brand and the premier Walther brand products and so cost less to produce and develop.

It is thought by some that the Rohm production was stopped as a rival to Hammerli - even though the Rohm pistols were clearly a lot less expensive and were bought by many that would not have been able to afford to buy a Hammerli - and by those who liked the unique products Rohm had to offer that even now are not available in the Hammerli range - so maybe this is a myth?

Any further insight that may help to identify exactly why this brand either failed or was stopped would be of some interest.

[mikehill]

Interesting question .. I’d love to know why too !

[RobinC]

I do remember when Rohm was absorbed into the Walther group of companies, and have recollections of asking why when we were at Walther at that time, but can't remember the answer, so it would not have been anything earth shattering, but I doubt it was to supress competition either to Umarex or Hammerli, the group was, and still is family owned solely by two partners, and both had a very sympathetic and patriotic attitude towards German companies in the gun trade, it was how they came to take over Walther.

I do not know for sure but I suspect Rohm was similar, and that it was taken into the group to save it, I doubt its products would have competed with any of the ranges from established group members, either the Umarex replica BB's, or the budget Hammerli's, but in 2011 it certainly was in the group.

So what did they do with it in the group?

My recollection of why they bought it, had laser guns in the back of my mind. Walther was dabbling with laser guns at that time and better to do that with a sub brand than risk your own name!

I have just trawled through my Walther brochures and price lists from that era, and voile! I have found in the 2011 products and price lists,, this is a universal list with everything they made or were agents for from the full Walther range, accessories, and products including Colt and UZI firearms, and I found Rohm products listed over two pages, and? They are all LTS (laser training Systems), it includes Rohm rifles and pistols, and target systems.

So there you have it, Walther used the Rohm name to market laser shooting systems. That was 2011 and I've been unable to find them in anything more modern, but I'll have a sweep of the internet after I get off of this.

I think the only laser system Walther now make is a hybrid Rifle based on the Hammerli AR20, you can have an air cylinder or a dummy cylinder that is a laser sender.

PS just searched on the Walther site, the LTS range are now marketed as Walther and Hammerli!

Have Fun
Robin

[zooma]

Thanks for your research and answers Robin.

Would it be possible to share the list of the Rohm air pistols (and rifles?) that were available in 2011 from Umarex by any chance?

I am only aware of a few of the Rohm air pistols, and a full product list would help me to fill the gaps in my limited knowledge of this excellent "value for money" range of target airguns.

We still don't know WHEN the production of the Rohm range of air pistols was stopped (except that it must have been after 2011), and we don't know WHY this excellent budget range suddenly disappeared when they would appear to have some good business and sales in this "budget price" segment of the target air pistol market.

[RobinC]

Hi Bob

The pages I have in the Walther 2011 product list is only the Rohm LTS Laser Training System, no air guns, but I will scan and email to you, (I'm not clever enough to post pictures on here!).

We visited Ulm in 2010, and I've just checked our photo's, including the room where they have examples of all products, and it does not look like any Rohms there, but Ulm is only Walther match target, air and firearms, as well as Walther defence firearms, only those, all the other stuff, even the sporting Walther marked stuff was made at the Umarex plant at Arnsberg, so they may have still been making them there, not in my interest zone, so I'd not have asked, but I do have a recollection of being told the fact they had taken over Rohm, so almost certainly it would have been then as our previous visit was some time before, although we have been since so it may have even been later, so sorry that's not much help!

I suspect they disappeared due to it being a small market, and even some of the big players have fallen on hard times.

I note on a search on the internet that Rohm still make and supply blank firing pistols, and defence style laser pistols, it sort of fits, and may be the same company, and they may still be part of the Walther group, as Walther do differentiate and separate out their products to different markets.

Have Fun
Robin

[zooma]

As I continue to try to piece together any fragments of information regarding "why and when" Rohm production ceased, I stumbled across an unlikely source when I was on the Best Fittings online site today and noticed that they had one sort of charging adaptor for pre 2012 Rohm air pistols and another for post 2012 pistol that were fitted with WALTHER air cylinders!!

Could it be that Umerex took over the Rohm business in 2011 and continued the manufacture for some time (later using Walther air cylinders) until stopping all production of air weapons at a later date (yet to be determined) ?

Why Umerex then stopped the air pistol production is of great interest as Rohm air pistols were beginning to make an impact with good sales evident here in the UK as the low prices made them an ideal entry level target pistol .