I don't usually like to get involved in disputes such as these but as long as I am a member of these boards, I'll toss my $.02 out for all to see. Heck, I might even toss out 2 bits!!

I realize that I am now fair game and open to any and all attacks that will probably commence to be hurled my direction, but this needs to be said. Remember, this is my opinion. If you don't like it, hit your "back" key and look at something else.
I've seen Gordon's stuff and it really is first rate, top shelf and of the highest quality. I do sincerely believe that Gordon is doing this for the love of the Thompson and as a favor to his friends in the collectors world. he will not get rich or even make much....he may even lose a few bucks. But I think what concerns him is a need for an authentic part to replace a broken one where a supply no longer exists.
People whine about the cost of his Serial Numbers book, but if you consider the extremely limited market, then think about the
HUNDREDS of hours and the
THOUSANDS of dollars spent on doing this research for this book, it doesn't take an Einstein

to figure out that he ain't making a lot per hour for his time spent on this project!
Then the spare parts boxes came along. And then the cleaning equipment, and now the ejectors. Each of these projects cost thousands of dollars to set up
(HEY! Any diemakers or machinists out there? PLEASE jump in and inform the board why these parts aren't cost effective to make unless you produce thousands to a huge market!!) Gordon has/is producing an extremely limited supply of all of these parts. Obviously he will be lucky (even at the prices he charges) to break even on these parts. And when his parts are gone, everyone will whine that flat ejectors aren't to be found anywhere. Then someone else will stick their neck out, make a couple hundred parts and the whining will again commence!!
I personally have thought about (along with a Machinist and Diemaking friend of mine) making reproduction drum parts. How many of us have a nice Colt drum with a mismatched cover, or with a GI key?? Or that Seymour drum with a sloppy West Hurley rotor inside?? Or a Bridgeport drum with a badly dented body???
What stopped me was the fact that it would cost many TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars (literally, folks!) to tool up a set of dies to produce drum parts. Then the stamping dies for identification. Brackets. Rotors. Rivets. Springs. Then the proper finishing, nickeling of the rotors, etc. And for what? So several on the boards could hammer away at my effort to create parts to fill that niche left by a nonexistant supply??
NO THANKS! I don't need that!!
Some obviously consider these parts "counterfeits". Counterfeit is defined as a product produced to imitate an original
in order to deceive others by selling them that product under the guise of it being original.
I perceive these as being "reproduction parts. A "reproduction" is defined as a product produced to imitate an original
in order to make that product available where no supply exists. Now the gray area.....to some of us here on the boards, anyway.
Counterfeits deceive others by making the unaware believe that all parts of an assembly are original. Markings (if any) are identical to the originals. Identical appearance is important for many trying to replace that broken ejector on their pristine '21 Colt where no spares exist. I personally wouldn't want a spare that had a GH marked on it (even on the back) but that's just me. It would NOT be my intention to deceive anyone if a future sale ever took place, but my idea of original includes "as close to original" as possible. If it doesn't look right........
I wouldn't want a parts box either if it had a small "GH" stamped inconspicuously in a corner. Or a tiny "reproduction". But that's just me.
Personally, because of Gordon's marketing technique, I'll call these reproduction parts.
They are not counterfeit, nor is Gordon attempting to fool anyone by saying these are original. He is simply making reproduced parts available in as close to original configuration as possible (for the "purist" in some of us).
Now my point. (has to be a catch here, right?)
If you feel that the unmarked parts are potentially deceptive and you don't want an unmarked "repro" part on your gun,
GO AHEAD AND MARK YOURS ANY WAY YOU SEE FIT . Nobody is stopping you. Put your own initials on it if it makes you happy. It's kinda like Kids and Television, folks!! If you don't want your kids watching a sex scene on TV,
TURN IT OFF!!! The power is yours. If you don't like the fact that Gordon doesn't mark his parts, don't buy them, or buy them and mark them yourself.
Gordon is not deceiving anyone here folks. He sells these as reproduction parts. If anyone is deceived by these parts in the future, that is not Gordon's doing. Nor is he producing these so that others will be able to deceive the unwary in the future (although that possibility does exist).
Gordon is just the manufacturer and merchant. But if you still believe that his production of these parts is setting up some sort of criminal act waiting for a time and place to happen, then I'd bet you also believe that guns cause crime,
right?? 'Nuff said.
johnBTW, anyone ever think about knurling a smooth actuator knob or a smooth selector?? Wouldn't be too tough to do.......