Hello friends.
As I live only 20 min from Arne and Boberg Arms in White Bear Lake MN (I'm in Stillwater, MN), I've had the pleasure of corresponding with him frequently, and meeting and having lunch with him once. Some things to remember, please:
This is a small, start-up company, with some people having left their previous jobs to do something they really love and believe in -- and have years of experience both in firearms and computer-aided design, milling and production. Some of the parties involved have other jobs but are so dedicated to this endeavor that they sleep on the 'factory' floor (hey, this is one room, basically) in sleeping bags overnight, to gain more time.
Remember, they are designing and programming the CAM machine to make the tools to make the tools to make this product - it's quite amazing, but this is what these guys have done for a living in other capacities for their whole professional lives.
I am NOT speaking for Arne, but really 'tours' of the 'factory' are really difficult: it's a very small operation with no secretary, PR person, 'office with a front desk' etc. and the owners of the facility are I believe 'concerned' with non-employees accessing or going into the site. (I'm not entirely sure they are comfortable with an 'arms manufacturer' even being there -- remember this is Minnesota which is very divided on most gun-related issues. The parties involved in Boberg Arms are funding this entire operation personally out of their own funds and are not seeking partners, investors, etc. so that they can control themselves the product they want to produce and guarantee the quality and operation of that product. So they'll release it and sell it 'when it's ready' and not before. All the questions about 'well, when will production begin, when will the first units be shipped', etc. cannot really be answered accurately -- it'll be ready when the good and honest people I personally know to be involved in this, say it's ready -- no shortcuts, quality deviations, etc.
I had the pleasure of bringing my Rohrbaugh R9s over for Arne to examine (but not shoot
), and I he was VERY impressed with the quality and manufacturing: this is exactly the level of machining and fit they intend to achieve.
So, all in all friends --- please be patient: this is a labor of love as well as a wager -- on their part -- on the future livelihoods of good, honest, experienced professional people with families and children to support. It's no scam - I know this to be the case.
PS: Arne's had long conversations with Bob Cogan of APW about, well, nearly everything. You can't really talk to Mr. Cogan without doing that
ONE MORE PERSONAL PLUG:
APW (
http://www.apwcogan.com).
Corey (the guy who wears the 5.11 TAC pants all the time so he can carry 27 Rohrbaughs every time he goes to lunch) can also testify for them.
Anyway, the main thing I wanted to leave you with was: patience. "Ripeness is all." Things will happen when economics, personal situations, unforeseen manufacturing or raw material supplies, landlord actions, etc. dictate.
I hope everyone joins me in wishing for the best for this new venture and all the good people involved.
