I'll respectfully maintain my original statement. Kosdon TRM did not have external thrust rings, true! And I really don't want any slugs feasting on your eyeballs!
But...
AMW made only two 38mm cases, the 390 (3G) and the 640 (5G). They were based on Frank's hardware; I have used the AMW I220SK and I315Sk in clusters using a mix of AMW and Kosdon 390 and 640 cases. The bulkheads and nozzles are different; though the noz throats are the same. Have used them interchangeably for years; maybe the case length is different, but the internal snap ring to snap ring distance is the same.
Kosdon TRM: all my gold hardware came from Frank. Some purchased second hand, but I recall very few gold anodized cases coming from Kosdon East (Paul R. and friends)...I remember a couple of matte gold finish 75-6000 cases around LDRS 19 when Paul started flying color propellant, which as you mentioned became AMW. Everything I got from Frank (38,54, 2.5", 4",) has been the glossy gold. Paul didn't want to deal with motor ejection delays; the 38 loads didn't come until much later in the AMW lineage. He was right; never saw an AMW 54-98 Cato, but I personally experienced a few and Paul was helpful.
Regarding the CTI/AMW merger, I wouldn't say AMW sold the recipes to CTI; and I'd bet a few reloads that AMW/Pro-X reloads are CTI formulas instead of AMW formulas. They have a completely different look/feel/smell. Off memory: Tamed Tiger = CTI Classic. Scalded Tiger =CTI White Thunder. Black Bear = Smoky Sam, Pro X Red Rhino = CTI red Lightning, Blue Baboon = Blue Streak, etc. CTI had the colors in production before the merger, the only "new" propellant to spawn was Skidmark; a welcome addition to the CTI family! Though insiders swear that CTI skid = AMW skid, there were changes for processing, material availability, etc; they certainly don't burn the same.
That's enough for now I think; I miss Frank and I miss Paul. Though I really enjoy Aerotech, CTI, and Loki, AMW and Kosdon were always my favorites; if nothing else because they were different (and serve/d well for EX!). Great stuff regardless! Between Preston N. and I, a lot of Kosdon and AMW has been burned in the Midwest; and we're far from done burning our stash yet!
-Eric-