The Claridge Hi-Tec/Goncz GA has a controversial history, primarily due to the feud between the designer Lajos John Goncz and his own Goncz Armament, Inc. of North Hollywood, CA and the subsequent manufacturers of the gun, Joe and Gail Claridge of Claridge Hi-Tec, Inc. in Northridge, CA. Goncz designed the original pistol and rifle carbine versions of the firearm between 1984 and 1990.
Claridge took over production and made some slight manufacturing changes (changes that Goncz did not agree with) and produced more firearms in the years between 1990 and 1994, when they were forced to close shop due to legal problems with Goncz.
Despite their feud, both versions of the firearms are finely machined pistols with some heft and finish. The versions of the guns are nearly identical outwardly except for the manufacturer's name on the sides. There are several versions of the Goncz/Claridge pistol - a short barreled standard version, a slightly longer barrel match version and the 16" barrel carbine with slight variations within each subcategory - including a choice between a deep blued finish and a satin steel finish.
The Claridge Hi-Tec/Goncz GA can be seen in the following:
