Japanese Replica Guns FAQ. (Revised: January 23rd, 1996)
by Tetsuya Nishimura (TetsuyaN@AOL.COM)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Replica Guns and Air Soft Guns
2 How They Are Made
2.1 Replica Guns
2.1.1 Plastic Handguns
2.1.2 Zinc Handguns
2.1.3 Long Guns (plastic/zinc)
2.2 Air Soft Guns
2.2.1 Electric-Operated Guns
2.2.2 Gas-Powered Guns (internal power supply)
2.2.3 Air/Gas-Powered Guns (external power supply)
3 What to Get
4 Legality in the U.S.
5 How Good They Are
5.1 Replica Guns
5.1.1 Plastic Guns
5.1.2 Zinc Guns
5.2 Air Soft Guns
5.2.1 Handguns
5.2.2 Long Guns
6 Contact Information
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1 Replica Guns and Air Soft Guns
In short, Replica Guns operate like real ones but cannot shoot
projectiles while Air Soft Guns can shoot but may not function like
original real guns.
Replica guns (aka model guns) are made of either zinc die-cast or
ABS plastic. They do not shoot any projectile. The bore of the zinc
guns is completely sealed together with a hardened steel insert.
Internal workings of these guns are often copied after their original
counterparts. Many of these guns utilize paper caps to recreate the
blowback operation on the real semi/automatic guns. Short recoil
operation on the semi-auto handguns is also recreated using some
sophisticated ideas.
Air Soft Guns (ASG) can shoot plastic pellets, usually 6 mm BBs,
by means of compressed air, freon or CO2 gas. The outer shells of
these guns copy their original counterparts very well. Since their
internal workings are quite different from the real ones, in order to
shoot plastic projectiles, some materials that are not allowed to be
used for replica guns are allowed for ASGs, such as the aluminum outer
shell as well as the barrel.
Recent trend in ASG is electric-operated long guns in which the
air piston is operated by the electric motor to compress air, which
totally eliminated a hose that connected the air source (air cartridge
or tank) on older models. One charge of a Ni-CD battery can shoot
about somewhere around 3,000 rounds and up.
2 How They Are Made
There are, like the gun control laws, strict regulations on these
toy guns. Materials that can be used to make model guns and the outer
finish of them are restricted depending on the type of the gun.
2.1 Replica Guns
2.1.1 Plastic Handguns
The barrel, receiver, and frame should be made of ABS
plastic or similar material. The slide on a semi-automatic
handgun model should also be made of the same material.
Some metal reinforcements can be employed on the frame or
the receiver; the reinforcements have to be zinc die-cast,
and should not be strong enough to hold the pressure and
stress generated by firing the live ammunition. Some parts
may be made of other metal materials such as aluminum, steel
and zinc.
The finish on plastic handguns can be chrome or nickel
plated, which are common on real guns, or be blued on the
plated finish.
The barrel has to have a hardened steel insert that MUST be
clearly visible from the muzzle end, and its removal MUST
destroy the barrel. The cylinder of the revolver model must
have an insert that covers half of the opening on the front
end. The inside of the cylinder has a cut/slot between the
chambers so that no single chamber can hold the pressure of
live ammunition.
2.1.2 Zinc Handguns
The outer main components can be made of zinc die-cast.
Those models with removable barrels, i.e., most automatic
pistols, MUST NOT be made of any metal material including
zinc. Simply put, most semi/full automatic model HANDGUNS
made of metal are not allowed to make, transfer, or possess
any more in Japan. Some semi-automatic models and
revolvers, whose barrel and frame can be made in one piece,
can be made of zinc die-cast with a hardened steel insert in
the barrel. Most internal parts can be made of zinc, or
some may be made of steel and other form of metal.
The finish on zinc handguns MUST be yellow/gold. No other
finish, e.g., blue, chrome, cannot be done on any metal
handguns. For export models, this may not apply.
The barrel must be completely sealed, and must have a hard
steel insert which is not visible from outside. This insert
has pointed ends which off sets any drilling device to
prevent a straight bore from being drilled out. The
cylinder of the revolver has the same insert and the cuts as
the plastic handguns.
2.1.3 Long Guns (plastic/zinc)
The restriction on rifle and machine gun models follow the
same as handguns.
The finish can be blued, plated, or whatever you can find on
real guns.
On zinc long guns, the barrel and the chamber MUST be
separate parts, i.e., barrel should be removable from the
chamber. Between the barrel and chamber is a hardened steel
insert block that prevents direct connection of the two
parts.
2.2 Air Soft Guns
Since they do not posses internal workings that could shoot
live ammunition, the materials allowed to build these guns
are not as restricted as zinc guns. Some have many metal
parts, mainly aluminum and zinc, for the barrel and outer
frame. Some steel parts are used for the internal workings.
Note that these ASGs are not considered 'air guns', e.g.,
air pistols and rifles found in the Olympic games, and they
are different.
2.2.1 Electric-Operated Guns
These are the recent main stream of ASGs. Upon pulling the
trigger, the motor powered by a Ni-CD battery cocks and
releases the air piston, generating compressed air to shoot
6 mm plastic BB pellets. Some models always hold the piston
at the cocked position so that more precise semi-auto shot
can be obtained. Because of the size limitation, this
mechanism is almost only employed by long guns, the smallest
being, as far as I know, the H&K MP5K PDW by several
manufacturers and the largest the GE Mini Gun.
2.2.2 Gas-Powered Guns (internal power supply)
Mainly found on handguns. For semi/full automatic handguns
(yes, they have the Glock 18 and Beretta M93R), the magazine
holds both 6 mm pellets and the gas. The same gas that
shoots pellets is also used to operate the slide to simulate
blowback operation. They use what they call "clean gas,"
which is said to be far less harmful than ordinary freon
gas. For revolvers, they usually have the gas chamber in
the grip frame.
2.2.3 Air/Gas-Powered Guns (external power supply)
These are now obsolete. An external power supply, either
gas or air cartridge/tank, is connected to the gun by a
hose. The only few advantage of this type of guns are that
you can hold a larger power supply than most gas/electric-
powered guns, and the compressed air in the tank is less
affected by a cold weather when you have a battle game in
the field in winter.
3 What to Get
Almost all recent replica guns have very realistic outlook
comparing to before. If you are interested in internal mechanism,
those products from Tanaka, Marushin, Hudson, CMC (gone out of
business now), and some recent zinc models from Kokusai are the best
choices. If you like to play with them, e.g., shooting a paper cap
and make BANG!, those plastic model guns from MGC (now called New MGC
after its restructuring of the company) is the choice. Plastic models
from Marushin and Hudson have original-like internal mechanism while
you can go BANG a lot. Most semi-automatic pistol models can shoot a
cap and blow back the slide to cycle.
Long guns from Tanaka, Nakata, Hudson, and some from Marushin
have very realistic feel and mechanism. CMC stopped producing replica
guns, but their products are very good if you can find one.
Prices:
Replica Guns
Plastic handguns: 5,000 - 50,000 yen (complete models),
2,500 - 15,000 yen (DIY kit models)
Zinc handguns: 5,000 - 20,000 yen (complete models only
Plastic long guns: 15,000 - 30,000 yen
(complete models), 10,000 - 20,000 yen
(DIY kit models)
Long guns: 15,000 - 200,000+ yen (complete models),
15,000 - 40,000 yen (DIY kit models)(for
both plastic and zinc)
ASG/Gas guns: 10,000 - 350,000 yen (complete handguns
to the vulcan!), 3,000 - 10,000 yen (kit
ASG's)
As you see, some models are apparently FAR more expensive than
original guns. B-) Some models can be found in out-side-Japan market
and they can be found with different finish, e.g., blued on handguns.
For ASGs, a bag of 1000 6 mm pellets is usually around 1,000 yen,
or roughly $10.00. There are even biodegradable BBs and tracer BBs.
Accessories for ASGs are also plenty. Anything from magazines to
scope mount to laser sighting device, you name it, you have it. For
replica guns, usually parts are not interchangeable with those of real
guns, however, there are lots of aftermarket custom parts built for
them.
4 Legality in the U.S.
In essence, I don't know. In some areas, it's legal to posses
such 'toys', but in some it may not be. In New York, as I heard, the
muzzle of such replica guns should be covered with a red plastic
plate. In Colorado, a friend of mine found and bought a plastic
M-16A1 replica at a local hobby shop. I got an electric-operated MP5
for a friend of mine in Chicago and neither of us has had a problem so
far. So check with your local regulations.
5 How Good They Are
Most likely, a lot of people would wonder how good these Japanese
toys are made. Simply put, very good. Here are some reviews of some
models that I have actually owned or handled.
5.1 Replica Guns
5.1.1 Plastic Guns
I have owned more than several models in the past 15 or so
years. The one I currently own in the U.S. is an MGC Colt Mk. IV
Series '70. I built this from a DIY kit. Even though it is ABS
plastic made, the internal workings is a direct copy of the real
gun, and it functions as the real one.
It utilizes a small amount of gas from paper/plastic cap
specially designed for replica guns to cycle the slide. It even
duplicates tilting of the chamber end of the barrel when it cycles,
and there is no locking lugs on this gun. Now, just guess how this
is possible... 8-)
The overall looks of the gun is very accurate. The finish is
matte black, and rosewood-like plastic grip panels with gold Colt
medallions. Some of the parts (hammer, main spring housing, grip
safety, etc.) are zinc die-cast. I once took this gun to a gun
show and showing it to a dealer I know. A guy came up next me and
he was watching the dealer handling this replica. When the dealer
handed the gun back to me, the guy said, "Excuse me, but how much
are you selling it for?" I explained him that it was a toy gun,
but he didn't believe me until I handed the gun to him.
Most plastic replica guns have internal workings that are very
close to their originals, and can be usually fired with
paper/plastic cap. Of course, no projectile can be fired and no
real ammunition can be chambered. Due to its construction, the
weight is significantly lighter than the real ones, just in case.
5.1.2 Zinc Guns
Zinc guns are more close in the feel and weight to their
original guns. The bore of the barrel is completely sealed. I
have owned some zinc handguns as well as long guns. Handguns are
painted with yellowish gold color for easier identification from
the real guns (many people believe that "guns" should be "black" in
Japan...). Long guns can be matte black or blue or whatever you
can think of with the real guns.
Currently very few semi-auto handgun models are available due
to the reasons I mentioned earlier in this FAQ, but still things
like Luger P-08, Nambu Type 14, Baby Nambu, Mauser M712 are still
available as well as revolvers.
Zinc long guns are very well made. I own an U.S. M-2 Carbine
back in Japan and a Winchester M92 among other things. When I came
to the States and handled the real ones (for the M-2 Carbine, I
just handled M-1's), I realized how well those toy guns were made.
You may not notice the difference just by looking, I guarantee.
Trouble is that these "toy" guns are sometimes MORE expensive than
the "real" guns. In recent ads, the M1 Garand replica gun costs as
much as 100,000 yen, that is about $1,000!! That's ridiculous for
me having seen prices on real ones. 8-P
5.2 Air Soft Guns
5.2.1 Handguns
I only have a very limited experience with the MGC's Glock 17.
It was an electric operated freon powered gun. The battery and
motor cycles the slide as you pull the trigger while the freon gas
charged in the magazine shoots the 6 mm plastic BBs loaded in the
magazine. The power is just about to be able to penetrate computer
paper from 10-12 yards. It was just fun to shoot it. This kind of
thing could make a really nice indoor practice tool.
For the environmentally concerned; they now use different kind
of freon which does not affect the ozone (or so they say). Some
guns are freon and CO2 interchangeable.
Recently, a company called Western Arms made a great hit by
releasing Colt Govt. type guns, which can shoot 1-1/2" groups at 5
meters. It uses gas to shoot and then cycle the slide. Another
good indoor training gun...maybe. 8-)
5.2.2 Long Guns
Now, the most fun part. I, again, have a limited experience
with a Marui H&K MP5A5, which can be described as an A3 with the
NAVY handguard and trigger group. The ambi selector has three
positions; Safe, Semi, and Full. The telescopic stock looks and
feels authentic, and it works like the real one even though it's
light (I've handled H&K 94 A3's). The detail of the outer shell of
the gun, though being plastic of course, is very detailed. The
cocking handle is spring loaded, and you can work it rearward; it
won't cock or charge anything, though.
I obtained this gun for a friend of mine in Chicago (so it's
with him now), who took it to R-Guns, one of the largest H&K
authorized dealers in the States, and the staff there actually were
surprised how well it was made and looked authentic. So, that must
tell you something.
The NiCD battery is stored inside the handguard, just below
the aluminum barrel. With the battery attached, the balance of the
gun feels really well despite the fact it's mainly made of plastic.
On the fixed stock model, a larger capacity battery is stored in
the stock.
The original curved magazine holds 50 rounds of 6 mm BBs, and
there is a 200-round version available as an aftermarket part.
How does it shoot? *VERY* good! I test fired it before I
sent it to my friend (well, he told me to!). A few 10-round full-
auto groups measured just about 2 inches from 10 meters, from the
rest. Semi-auto works great, however, you will hear more motor
noise that sounds like toy (well, it IS a toy). One charge of the
battery can shoot as many as 3,000 rounds of BBs.
The BBs penetrated a sheet of computer paper used as a target
and two layers of cardboard backstop from 10 meters. The BBs were
either trapped in the third cardboard or penetrate the third and
bounced on the next.
The sound of shooting it sounded like a suppressed weapon. In
that case, there is an SD version available from the same company,
if you will.
The gun has what they call "hop-up" system. As it shoots,
some internals apply reverse spin on the BBs so they carry away up
to around 50 yards. The degree of "hop" is easily adjustable with
a tiny lever found between the barrel and handguard, just in front
of the receiver.
All in all, it was a fun toy and I envy my friend. Maybe I
will get one for myself (the prices on those are dropping
recently!). 8-)
6 Contact Information
The contacts in the following list are manufacturers of either
replica guns and/or ASGs in Japan. There is no guarantee that they have
an English-speaking employee available, so be advised. I didn't list
independent retail stores here, even though there are plenty of them,
because most of them don't deal with overseas transaction since they
are not sure of the laws and regulations outside Japan. Products
listed in the list are ASGs (ASG) and zinc/plastic replicas (REP).
If you want to see color photos of these toys, go to a nearest
Japanese bookstore (the larger, the better) and take a look at "Gun"
(Kokusai Shuppan, Tokyo) or "Combat Magazine" (KK World Photo Press,
Tokyo). BTW, the articles and photos in those magazines are superb.
Kokusai Shuppan (Showa Bldg., 5-3-25 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
164; TEL: 03-3387-5535/FAX: 3319-1002) just published a 256-page book
called "GUNs DIGEST '96" B-), which includes all ASGs and replicas
currently available in Japan.
Eddy's Shop Takamura Bldg. 3F, 5-10-14 Hirai, Edogawa-ku,
Tokyo 132 JAPAN
TEL: 03-3611-1722
REP: New Nambu M60 (current issue revolver to Japan
Police Agency)
Hobby Fix (no address)
REP: Type 64 7.62mm x 51 rifle (current SDF issue rifle)
Hudson 357 Yamabuki-chou, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162 JAPAN
TEL: 03-3260-1561
REP: Colt S.A.A., Tokarev TT-33, Desert Eagle .50 AE,
Colt Bisley, Nambu Type 14, Thompson M1A1, Scorpion SMG,
M3A1 "Grease Gun", etc.
Kokusai Meguro Eki Higashi-guchi Bldg. 3F 3-1-5 Kami-Ohsaki,
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141 JAPAN
TEL: 03-3447-3615
ASG: S&W M10, M19, M16 series, Remington M700 BDL, Colt
Python, Colt Gov. series, Mini UZI, SIG P220, etc.
REP: Colt S.A.A., S&W M19, M36, Colt Python, etc.
KSC Corp. 1616 Ooshimojo, Shikishima-cho, Nakakoma-gun,
Yamanashi-ken 400-01 JAPAN
TEL: 0552-77-2365
ASG: Beretta M93R
REP: Beretta M93R, Colt King Cobra
Marui 5-17-1 Ayase, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120 JAPAN
(Tokyo Marui) TEL: 03-3605-3312
ASG: H&K MP-5 series, FA-MAS, M16A1 and variants, H&K G3,
H&K PSG-1, AK-47 and variants, SIG/SAUER P.228, etc.
(Note: Marui's electric long guns are dominant in battle games)
Just Announced!!: Styer AUG, SIG SG550, H&K MP5 PDW,
G3 MC51, etc.
Marushin 3-9-35 Iizuka, Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama-ken 332 JAPAN
TEL: 048-253-1511
ASG: Beretta M92F, Mossberg M500 Marina, U.S. M1 Carbine,
Beretta M9 "Dolphin" (electric ASG)
REP: Walther P-38, Colt S.A.A., Browning M1910, Beretta M92,
S&W M586, Colt M1908 "Vest Pocket", Mauser M712
Snellfeuer, Walther P-38, Browning Hi-Power, Beretta M9
"Dolphin", Walther PPK/S, Beretta M84, Auto Mag,
Baby Nambu, Luger P-08, etc.
(Also has several DYI kits for handguns and long guns, in both
plastic and zinc models)
Maruzen 3-11-11 Yokogawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130 JAPAN
TEL: 03-3623-2682
ASG: Remington M870, Beretta M93R, Walther PPK/S,
Ingram M11, S&W M4504/4506, etc.
New MGC Dai 2 Kyodo Bldg. 5F B, 3-4-8 Ueno, Taito-ku,
(Taito Shoji) Tokyo 110 JAPAN
TEL: 03-3831-5124 FAX: 03-3833-5833
ASG: Glock 17/18/19/23, H&K P7M13, Colt Govt. series and
customs, H&K MP-5K PDW, Beretta M92 FS, Beretta 93R,
Cz75, etc.
REP: Ingram M11, Beretta M96, Colt Woodsman Sports,
Auto Mag, Colt Lawman Mk. III, etc.
Shoei 5-9-1 Asahi, Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama-ken (ZIP ???) JAPAN
TEL: 048-226-1855/FAX: 048-225-2133
REP: German FG42, MP44, etc.
Tanaka Works 8-15-11 Toyoshima, Kita-ku, Tokyo 114 JAPAN
TEL: 03-3919-1857
ASG: SIG/SAUER P.226, H&K P8 (USP), etc.
REP: SIG/SAUER P.226, Glock 17, WW II Arisaka rifles, etc.
Tanio Koba 1405-1-101 Nishijuku, Mimuro, Urawa-shi,
Saitama-ken 336 JAPAN
TEL: 048-875-5171 FAX: 048-875-5174
ASG: H&K USP and custom parts
(Note: The owner is a leading replica designer in Japan)
TOP 5-33-9 Mukoujima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo (ZIP ???) JAPAN
TEL: 03-3829-2081
ASG: Type 64 7.62mm x 51 rifle, M60 GPMG, etc.
Western Arms Gloria Miyamasuzaka Bldg. 1F,
1-8-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150 JAPAN
TEL: 03-3407-5922
ASG: Beretta M92FS, S&W M6906, Colt Govt. series, H&K MP-5K,
Desert Eagle, etc.
There are even things like M60 General Purpose MG, Marverick M88,
British L86, and etc., from many other small companies. Oh, one more
thing; M-134 Vulcan...for about $3300.00!! :-P
Enjoy!
EOT
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