Paul at Pyramyd wrote me back and the email is as follows for those who are interested:
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Hello Matt,
Just in case we don't hook up. Crosman purchased the rights from Vortek manufacturing to be the exclusive distributor of their gas ram/springs we were labeling as Air Venturi. So now we have to buy them from Crosman whom renamed them and advertise as required, the Crosman Nitro Piston name. Same product, now we just pay more for it.
Take care,
Paul
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Guess that sheds some light on some things, eh?
Matt