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The history of airsoft
pistols starts in Japan during mid-1970s mostly due to the fact that private individuals are not allowed to own firearms legally. Spring-powered
airsoft pistols which fired 6mm plastic pellets known as BBs are the first airsoft guns available. The guns then start to gain popularity in China, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines due to firearms restrictions in the countries.
Air-driven pellet guns,
spring-driven pellet guns and cap-type guns are
the first airsoft guns. |
The initial Japanese air driven pellet guns which were powered by spring are according to semi-automatic pistols. When spring piston is released, the air will propel plastic pellet. A powerful explosive cap was used in cap-type guns to eject the spent cartridge and make the sound of gunfire. On the other hand, a spring driven pellet guns used a spring to propel the pellet which is held between two small locks and released when a user discharged the gun.
During the 1950s, a product by the name “Shootin Shells” is marketed by Mattel, the famous American toy company and it is similar to spring driven pellet guns. The guns imitate the gunfire’s sound using Stik-M-Caps. Next, Replisoft and and Soft Air spring gun models are manufactured by Daisy BB Gun Company which is used by opposing players to shoot at each other.
However, airsoft pistols only start to gain some popularity during the mid-1990s in Europe and United States and since then, it is getting more famous in the West. In 2003, Daisy starts to manufacture and market airsoft guns in United States again using the brand name “Powerstrike”.
Others manufacturers follow suit and various airsoft
pistol models are now available in the United States market.
