In case you weren't aware, its a 7075 T6 handle and release latch. I switched my primary to a new upper round 8 months ago and haven't noticed any excessive wear on the release latch's notch. The handle and release latch are hard coat anodized per Mil-A-8625F, Type III, Class 2 and I expect the spring is stainless. The handle features an ass unlike "standard" CHs that allows the release latch the contact the handle at its ass and tranfer force into it. This transfers much of the rearward force of single-handed manipulations into the handle body instead of weighing it all on a single roll pin as in "standard" designs. I had to machine out a replacement pin for a sheared roll pin just today... Not on a CH or anywhere near one, but nonetheless... The Gunfighter's system does seem more durable.
Laser engravings are on the top of the handle. VLTOR, BCM GUNFIGHTER, caliber and the stars and stripes:
Wear marks can be expected to go right through the anodization as with traditional CHs. Which side and where, exactly, the marks appear will depend on which hand is dominant and how, exactly, they manipulate their CH.
On the THE ISSUES. As previously stated, they are inconsequential and do NOT prevent the operator from making effective use of the weapon. For this reason, the gunfighter remains a significant improvement over traditional CHs and my preference for a practical use CH. That said, improvements that would not alter performance negatively could be made. They are as follows: My support hand index finger, as well as the support hand index fingers of many an end user, have been cut superficially though distractingly by the unfinished edge of the release latch, indicated below.
Beveling this edge would not increase production costs significantly and not decrease the structural integrity of the latch significantly while significantly increasing ease of use for non-gloved hands. I do love shooting a carbine with gloves, I find I fear the controls less and tend to manipulate the weapon more aggressively and ultimately more effectively, although I tend not to wear gloves when shooting: A) because I suck at handgun with gloves, and B) because I may be shooting at something coming into my house in the middle of the night and to loosely quote Bernie Mac from Ocean's Eleven, I don't wear gloves to bed since I find that it interferes with my personal agenda.
My only other issue with the product is theoretical and has absolutely no basis in my empirical experience with it. I decided to state that before stating the theoretical issue. If you'd like to completely ignore this commentary based on that, I'd completely understand. If you'd like to read on out of curiosity nonetheless, I'd understand as well.
Tolerances between the release latch and the handle are rather loose and have loosened up slightly with use. The release latch does NOT move anywhere near perfectly about the axis created by its roll pin. As demonstrated below, after about 1000 rounds of primarily support-hand use, my release latch can move so far downward before moving backward as to contact the CH before releasing the CH. ...Locking it in place and stopping the rearward motion entirely. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME WHILE ACTUALLY USING THE PRODUCT AND I MUST INTENTIONALLY INDUCE IT. I trust the product to function effectively under all conditions, though tighter tolerance would certainly offer me more confidence. That's just me, bro.
The usual (this endplate has since been staked):
