Friday, December 19, 2008

Airsoft History: A look behind the most famous guns in the world

By Alexander Malroy

Airsoft is a contemporary sport based in combat and tactical warfare. It is a leisure pursuit where players eliminate enemies by hitting each other with rounded non-metallic pellets using an air gun. Air Guns or Airsoft guns are usually powered by a manual spring-load, gas or sometimes electrically powered gearbox.

Members of airsoft organizations put together events whether it's indoor or outdoors. Airsoft combat games are designed so players can play different levels of games in a variety of interim skirmishes, military recreations, battle scenes and even historical battle re-enactments such as those who partake in World War II and Civil War re-enactments.

Military warfare on the combat zone often includes the deployment of military tactics and fighting methods to accomplish missions set in every game. There are several uses of different types of military weaponry that are fabricated as replicas of the real tactical gears, firearms as well as accessories use in contemporary armed services.

Airsoft games started late 1950s particularly in East Asia, exactly in Japan. During that time, Japanese laws were strict that it is hard to possess a firearm; however, airsoft enthusiasts found a legal alternative to owning a gun in order for them to pursue and enjoy their passion. Until then airsoft became so popular in the said region following countries like China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Macau, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Airsoft pistols, guns and their accessories and upgrades were also manufactured in these regions.

The game, also gaining popularity in western front as the likes of United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Finland, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Lithuania, Poland, Ireland are joining the bandwagon of growing airsoft enthusiasts. Dutch players visited these counties for the playing experience as the game is banned in Netherlands.

During the 1990s, springer kits became so widely available in the hobby stores that it enabled enthusiasts to customize their airsoft guns to suit their needs. Also during that era, Japan developed airsoft guns that gradually replaced the Automatic Electric Guns (airsoft AEG) and at the same alteration on different gun models were introduced.

When the 1990s came around Springer kits became so widely available in the hobby stores that it gave Airsoft enthusiasts the freedom to customize their guns to suit their needs at all respective playing levels. Also during that era, Japan launched Airsoft guns that gradually replaced the Automatic Electric Guns and at the same time new gun models were also introduced.

During the 1990s the United States and the rest of Europe would catch up with the growing popularity of the Airsoft gun sport, and continue to spread all throughout the region. In 2003, the company, Daisy produced a line of airsoft guns specifically aimed for the American market with their own unique brand name as "PowerStrike." Other businesses follow the trail of Daisy and soon came up with the different kinds of Airsoft gun to supply the growing market of gun collectors, local and abroad. A vast array of different models and prices soon added to the high demand on the Airsoft gun market. - 15995

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