Thanks for the errr study, believe it or not, there are knock-offs of these, based from the reviews I've seen. And this definitely looks like the ones used on those expensive slingshot rifles / telescopic slingshots I've seen. One thing I wished you had done was tap it with a coin or even your nail, so that I can hear the hopefully 'metalic'ness' of it, it's hard to judge quality these days with plastic optimized to look metallic or durable