Once upon a time, the Dakota Arms brand stood apart. It produced some of the most gorgeous rifle builds in all of Gundom. Acquired by Remington, Dakota Arms went up for grabs in the wake of the Remington Outdoor Company bankruptcy. A new entity then picked up the legendary Dakota Arms. Out of that fire rises Parkwest Arms–a new name for new management and a new vision.
Parkwest Arms Continues Dakota Arms Legacy
The company still resides in Sturgis, South Dakota. And even with a new name and new boss, Parkwest Arms still claims an absolute commitment to excellence and one-of-a-kind firearm masterpieces. Over the last 18 months, led by new company president Steve Rabackoff, Parkwest Arms has grown considerably.
“I’m very pleased to announce another successful year, delivering some of the most innovative and highest quality firearms to our loyal clients around the nation and world,” said Ward Dobler, long-time employee and Chief Gunsmith at Parkwest Arms. “Since Mr. Rabackoff took over, he has completely empowered the team, bringing a new energy to the company. The growth we’ve seen over the past year is a testament to Parkwest’s employees, from its engineers, designers, production crew and front office staff and of course the customers who see the superiority of our products. Parkwest’s unbroken growth in innovation, product development and all other areas, including customers, partners, and community members, doesn’t show any signs of slowing down in the years to come.”
The company continues to expand on its line of firearms and services. Parkwest Arms even expanded into the world of AR-15s. The recently-released PW-P9 shows the company maintains a solid grasp of that market. The PW-P9 comprises a large-format pistol design, chambered in 9mm. For range work or as a defensive PDW, the PW-P9 breaks new ground for a company that previously made its name on exquisite bolt-action builds.
Continuing Hunting Gun Legacy
But Parkwest Arms didn’t abandon the hunting rifle market. It still produces a wide range of single-shot and bolt-action rifles, with variants ranging from varminter to those built for an African safari.
“The company attributes its ongoing success to not only the loyal retailers, but the customers who returned after they feared the facility was indefinitely closed,” read a company statement. “Customers who had firsthand experience with the dominating quality and functionality of all the Parkwest Arms products were ecstatic that the company had just changed names and was still producing the world’s most sought-after bolt-action rifles.”
To the Future
Now Parkwest Arms looks to grow, increasing manpower and increasing production. The company retained both independent sales reps and a marketing agency, while strengthening its internal team. So Parkwest Arms turns its attention to creating and developing new products. In short, they say they’re just getting started.
“It is our goal in the next few years to build our brand and nourish and build our relationships with both the retailers and customers who support us,” Rabackoff said. “It’s a very exciting time for Parkwest Arms and all of us who are dedicated to its success are ready to make a significant impact in the industry. Stay tuned.”
Editor’s Take:
The Remington bankruptcy and breakup pretty much rocked the firearms industry. To make matters worse, lawyers and insurance carriers for the old entity settled in the Sandy Hook victims case, casting a further cloud over the rights of manufacturers and the future of gun building.
But since then, the tide continues turning back our way. Ruger seems well on its way to bringing Marlin back to its former glory. And now Parkwest Arms looks to continue the very enviable reputation of Dakota Arms. We’re not gonna lie: they really surprised us with that PW-P9 introduction. Not only did it seem a surprising choice in the type of gun the company might built, but they also seemed to really nail what folks are looking for in an AR-based PDW. That tells us there are some real gun people involved up in Sturgis. And that bodes well for continued success.
