HISTORY OF RPA - Absolute Precision from the past and into the future
2nd June 2009
Early in 1970 the SWING rifle action was conceived by George Swenson and manufactured by Peter Churchill and Ron Wickham, Early in 1968 George Swenson, an itinerant American living in Tonbridge, was introduced to Peter Churchill and Ron Wickham of Churwick Engineering Ltd. They began by manufacturing two stage triggers as replacements on Mausers and P14's as well as front sights. The following year the first rear sights were made, these were known as the Wilkes sights and were based around the Redfield mounting system.
George Swenson lived and breathed guns and had a burning desire to build a rifle specifically for target shooting; Churwick Engineering offered him the resource to make this reality. Ron & Pete spent hours with George in his Tonbridge flat, studying his books and rifle collection. Slowly a general design consensus was reached, incorporating not only the features George considered important, but of equal importance, a design which best suited the machinery available at Churwick Engineering, the SWING action was born.
Work started on the prototype, resources did not allow for the luxury of drawings, sketches were made as the parts were produced. Once George agreed the prototype, a batch of half a dozen were manufactured and taken to London to be proofed. Those initial half dozen SWING actions were built into rifles, which on testing showed definite potential, George set about getting NRA approval for them to be used in competition. The ex-works price at that time for the new Swing action was nineteen pounds seven shillings and six pence or about US$50.00.
RPA 4 lug rifle
Over the following three years the Swing started to make its name in competitions, though it did suffer from a few inherent problems. It was Peter Churchill, who came up with the idea to do away with the side groove in the bolt by broaching four grooves into the action body. In 1976 a broach was made by BSA, but it snapped whilst being pulled through the first receiver, after being repaired it went on to produce the bodies for the early Mark 3 actions.
During the later part of 1980 and SWING manufacture was revived in Tonbridge, with some significant design changes the Swing Mark IV was launched. Another upgrade in 1989 brought about the Swing Mark V which was the last Swing to be made by Churwick Engineering.
In 1989 Churwick Engineering joined forces in an ill fated venture to form Paramount Manufacturing. Whilst starting very well, within twelve months the country was in the grip of recession, dwindling orders lead to the inevitable winding up of Paramount in 1992.
RPA Pistol
Ron & Peter went there own way, starting from scratch with R&P Arms. Financial help came from one of their subcontract customers Jiskoot Ltd. Who were themselves precision engineers although in the oil and gas industry. Fortunately the dealers kept faith with R&P Arms, none more so than in the USA.
In 1993 R&P Arms trading as RPA Precision Engineering Ltd. started producing the RPA 2000. This was a 4 lug round receiver with floating ejector and 2 bedding lugs which again suited the machinery RPA had at the time. A business relationship with a French gun maker, took RPA into the world of pistols, specifically the Rangemaster long range pistol & C.G Excalibur silhouette pistol, using the 4 lug style receiver, which by now had become synonymous with RPA.
There is little doubt that these pistols where superbly accurate weapons, most 4 lug actions are, but with changes in licensing laws the pistol market turned out to be a smaller market than RPA had hoped. The high cost of manufacture prompted the decision to discontinue the product in 1995.
RPA Quadlock Action
RPA adopted the idea of using Belville style washers for the firing pin which have proven to be a very reliable system over the past 8 years and still continues to use them in the large calibre actions.
RPA "Blue" Trigger
During 1996 the Company officially changed its name from R&P Arms Ltd. (Ron & Pete Arms) to RPA Precision Engineering Ltd. They also installed the first new American FADAL CNC milling machine with 4 axes, thereby opening up many new production opportunities. An extensive product evaluation programme was undertaken with the view of reducing costs and improving quality, this programme continues to be an ongoing process.
RPA Trakker Rear Sight
As a direct result of the new equipment the rifle action product line was consolidated and the Quadlock® was launched superseding the RPA 2000 and the CG action. This is a strong octagonal shaped receiver with integral bedding lugs and incorporates RPA’s hallmark four Lug bolt system. 1997 also saw the introduction of the Adjustable foresight into the main stream product line.
In 1998 the Company also installed another larger FADAL 4 axis CNC milling machine in the lead up to launching in 1999 the Quadlite® rifle action, the new Trakker® rear sight and the prototype RPA Interceptor rifle along with the “Gold” RPA trigger for competition use on the Quadlock® and it’s variants and for the first time available as a “light” 8oz pull.
At the beginning of 2000 RPA attended its first SHOT show in the USA and launched the first RPA Quadlite® as a repeater along with the Tall Boy adjustable front sight. The need for expansion caused a mezzanine floor to be installed in the factory and a new Hitachi turning centre was purchased. The Quadlite® “Blue “Trigger was also launched.
RPA Rangemaster 7.62
After demand from military and police customers’, who were successfully shooting RPA target rifles, and wanted an equally accurate tactical rifle, 2001 saw the beginnings of the Rangemaster tactical family of rifles. Early models incorporated carbon fibre and kevlar and were built around an enlarged Quadlock® action. RPA also introduced engraved adjustable knobs for the Trakker® rear sights.
The Company name was formally changed to RPA International Ltd. in 2002 in order to reflect its world-wide business presence. RPA also launched “Bippy the Bipod” for the target sector to rest and clean their rifles.
RPA GP Hunter Rifle
2004 saw the MKII RPA Rangemaster 338 and 7.62 rifles launched along with the Ranger target rifle. It was also the year that a .50 calibre rifle action were launched.
The Rangemaster tactical rifle family was completed in 2005 with the Rangemaster .50, .338 the 7.62mm and the 7,62mm STBY short barrelled rifle.
Old Manufacturing Facility
In the spring of 2006 RPA attended its first IWA Show at which it launched the GP and TH Hunters and started a significant development plan to improve the product line further.
2006 was also the year that saw the Company’s sale to Mach 3 International Ltd.The following 18 months saw a period of significant growth and development. During the last quarter of 2006 the factory was moved into new much larger premises.
The Company has invested in a significant amount of new machinery and doubled the number of staff whilst retaining most of the original team. By the end of 2006 RPA had gained ISO 9001 quality accreditation.
The new 'in service' Rangemaster .50
2007 saw the “locking” down of RPA’s product range, which includes 9 distinct bolt action rifles, actions, triggers, sights and other accessories. Production of rifles has increased ten-fold. The all new Rangemaster .50 rifle along with the RPA .50 match grade ammunition (jointly developed between Primetake and RPA and manufactured by Primetake) has been a major success with RPA’s customers achieving 0.5 MOA accuracy out beyond 1,500 metres. 2007 also saw a complete marketing makeover with new brochures and the launch of the full range of rifles and their variants. 2008 began with the launch of the new RPA website and the development of a dealer network throughout the UK.
In 2009 RPA will be expanding its international dealer network, as well as celebrating 40 years since the Company’s founders set up their first business. To mark this occasion a unique gold hunting rifle has been built by RPA for auction in June, with some of the proceeds going to charity.
The 40 Year Gold Hunting Rifle
Looking to the future RPA International Ltd will continue to be a high quality sub-contract manufacture of specialist components for the civilian security, defence, oil & gas and other markets. It will continue to develop its active involvement with, and support of, “grass roots” target, sporting and hunting shooters whilst providing the essential equipment for tomorrows security forces. Most of all our commitment to our customers will be to provide the best quality and probably the most accurate rifles they can buy. We live by our motto...