Airsoft Guns Past and Present

Airsoft, as we know it today, originated in Japan in the 1980s, when people, unable to possess real guns, wanted high quality replicas (which also fired something).

Manufacturers of gas guns such as MGC, JAC and ASAHI dominated this period of Airsoft and some of the most sought after airsoft pieces (often with a high metal content) came from these manufacturers in this era. However, as skirmishing with airsoft guns took off, fuelled by the availability of CO2 and compressed air powered automatic guns, with external gas tanks (which, although bulky, worked well on cold days), The demise of classics occurred because the Japanese government banned Green Gas and CO2 over there, so they were left essentially with 134a, an underpowered and expensive propellant.

JAC lasted through 1995 and Kokusai through 1997 producing gas rifles, though they continued making their pistols and revolvers after that. Asahi discontinued their gas guns and went to limited production guns, as far as is known exclusively bolt action. Maruzen, the maker of the Mac10 and 'mini' AUG (86% scale aug), popular beginner's guns, has continued with their smgs and pistols to this day.

It was around this time that Tokyo Marui launched their AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) range, which require no gas and work whatever the weather. The effect of these, long arms (rifles and machineguns) was to drive most of the traditional (gas gun) manufacturers out of business.

Of course, there were collectors of handguns who still wanted gas guns (the handgun equivalent of AEGs, EBB, is a damp squib so far) and manufacturers such as Tokyo Marui, Western Arms and KSC stepped in to produce, first NBBs and then GBB pistols, whilst old timers like Marushin and Maruzen stayed in the market producing their range. These guns had more efficient gas systems, which meant that a reasonable amount of gas could be stored in the magazine (or hand grip on earlier NBBs), removing the reliance on ugly external tanks and increasing the realism.

Airsoft guns were designed to be relatively low in power so that they could be used in confined spaces as space is at a premium in Japan. The combination of realism, safety, flexibility, and low cost made Airsoft more appealing to the average consumer who would like to exercise his or her steady eye! hand coordination without the inherent dangers. Some real steel owners like to practice with their GBB as the cost of ammunition is something like 1/100th of the price!

Springer’s have been around a long time (I owned a Daisy spring .177 once!) and they form the cheap end of the market, with prices ranging from $5 or $6 for very cheap, weak and poorly detailed Chinese made guns (often bearing little or no resemblance to any specific model) to around $60 for top of the range KWC Desert Eagles, with adjustable hop-up and GBB like quality and they continue to

Today, Airsoft is popular in many of the Asian countries and gaining in popularity, for both collecting and skirmishing (where the lower pain infliction and increased realism is winning converts from paintball) in the US and Europe (notably Italy and the UK).

Interestingly, whilst the AEG is the preferred long arm for most skirmishers, there's a thriving market for gas blowback rifles and sub-machine guns and these are becoming better and more powerful as the technology developed for airsoft handguns is applied back to them.

Here at Airsoft Battle Zone we hope you found this tib bit of history interesting on airsoft guns.

Mr & Mrs Armsdealer