So...let me see if I'm following here (from reading the Shotgun World thread on the subject). The reason there are so many fakes is the barrels Winchester supplied to Simmons (as a preferred vendor for rib-equipped guns). Those barrels came onto the market when Simmons closed out that partnership. People who shot skeet then used those barrels to build 28 gauge guns from 20s and 16s so they could participate in skeet competitions with an affordable weapon? No wonder there are so many "fake" guns. Anybody with a "postal order" barrel and a modicum of skill can build his or her own.