RKW finish

[54bullseye]

In 1964 or 65 Remington came out with the tuff, thick RKW finish for there rifles and shotguns does anyone have any idea what RKW stands for ? I have looked all over the internet and in books but can't find it ? I had a friend in Arkansas also a Remington Society member that was interested in what it stood for. Thanks John T.

[Wulfman]

In 1964 or 65 Remington came out with the tuff, thick RKW finish for there rifles and shotguns does anyone have any idea what RKW stands for ? I have looked all over the internet and in books but can't find it ? I had a friend in Arkansas also a Remington Society member that was interested in what it stood for. Thanks John T.

When you figure it out, please let us know.......
Personally, I don't know or really care, but I did some searching and came up with a few possibilities and links to some clues.
"RKW" could be the initials of a company (International) of that name or a "process" or the chemicals involved in it (maybe the "K" stands for Kevlar).
Most searches report that it was developed by DuPont as a bowling pin finish made of some type of Polymer. Back in those years, DuPont owned Remington.
Since there is a company with those initials which manufactures numerous types of finishes, coatings and coverings, maybe it was spun off from DuPont years ago. Maybe it was a collaberation between DuPont and RKW. Who knows?

Anyway, report back and let us know if you manage to find out.
Maybe you could try contacting DuPont or Remington and asking them.

Den

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https://www.americanrifleman.org/articl ... -50-years/

http://www.rkw-group.com/home.html

http://www.rkw-group.com/company/locati ... in-ky.html

https://www.google.co.uk/patents/US20050079379

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articl ... -50-years/

http://www2.dupont.com/Phoenix_Heritage ... etail.html

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[54bullseye]

Den
Thanks for the reply ! Like I said I have an older friend that lives in Arkansas that doesn't mess with the computer at all but loves older Remington bolt actions and he asked me to see what I could find on the RKW finish and what the letters stand for. I personally I am not crazy about the thickness and shine of it I prefer the older finishes but I will say other than scratching the stuff is bullet proof !! I guess I just like the patina the older guns pick up through the years. Len I have noticed through the years you have posted or answered posts on the Remington 700 . I posted a few questions on Early Safaris and Kodiaks recently and haven't had one response. Do you know of any one that has either a Kodiak or 62 or 63 Safari that might know something about them ? Again thanks for the response !! John T.

[Wulfman]

Den
Thanks for the reply ! Like I said I have an older friend that lives in Arkansas that doesn't mess with the computer at all but loves older Remington bolt actions and he asked me to see what I could find on the RKW finish and what the letters stand for. I personally I am not crazy about the thickness and shine of it I prefer the older finishes but I will say other than scratching the stuff is bullet proof !! I guess I just like the patina the older guns pick up through the years. Len I have noticed through the years you have posted or answered posts on the Remington 700 . I posted a few questions on Early Safaris and Kodiaks recently and haven't had one response. Do you know of any one that has either a Kodiak or 62 or 63 Safari that might know something about them ? Again thanks for the response !! John T.

Hi John.
I really haven't had any personal exposure to those Kodiaks. I have a 1958 vintage 725 in .280 Rem and a bunch of 721s and 722s, but no "Safari" models from that era. The only Safari-type "big" caliber I have is a 1989 vintage 700 Custom Shop .375 H&H......which is super accurate (and super cheap when I bought it).
Just searching the forum doesn't produce many posts about them......and you're in quite a few.
About the only thing I know about them is what I've read. Basically a Model 725 in .375 and .458 with 26" barrels. There are a few of them to look at from searches.
Kind of pricey.

http://poulinantiques.hibid.com/lot/234 ... on-rifle-/


Den

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[nambujim]

Actually "RK" was a prefix used by the DuPont Industrial Finishes Department for a series of coatings. It was simply a prefix code used to identify a particular formula, in this case RKW was not the real formula, it was probably more like RK-1706, and as I recall we submitted several versions to Remington for evaluation. Remington picked one and for whatever reason added the "W" for advertising purposes.

By the end of the 60's, the only plant Dupont had that was producing the somewhat nasty wood finish products was on Elston Avenue in Chicago, it has been closed for some time, and was in the end a "superfund" site. That particular plant had the last kettles & equipment capable of making these type finishes. It has been a good while since I was involved so my recollection of exact code numbers is foggy but the above should give you the basics.

Jim Peterson
Charlotte, NC

[Wulfman]

Thanks for that information, Jim.


Den

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[nambujim]

Roger that, it started out as a finish for Brunswick Corporation, and as I recall was a catalyzed product making it extremely durable. It seems my memory cells are clogged with useless information like this......lol.

Jim

[dhenzler]

RKW was first used as a bowling pin coating. Something that could withstand the constant hammering of bowling balls, and the automatic pin setting machines. Pretty successful stuff. Nobody sells it to my knowledge. Mfg by Dupont.