what airsoft company is the oldest?

[DI Sessa]

who has been making gun for the longest period of time?

[j_march]

I'm only curious. Does anyone use a search engine to look up stuff anymore?

[Chillyrabbit]

Numerically I don't know but a japanese company would probably be the oldest as airsoft started in japan. Maybe start your research there?

[Drake]

That question is more complicated than it may appear on the surface because airsoft guns evolved from [non-firing] model guns, and early airsoft kits were somewhat different than what we know today -- having barely any power or accuracy, however being a model gun they were extremely detailed replicas with top notch aesthetics.

The first airsoft gun is usually attributed to MGC (defunct since the 90s); Hudson Model Guns is an old model gun company (which is still operating), which was among the first to produce domestic model guns along with MGC, but while they eventually did make airsoft models I think their first airsoft gun was released well after many other companies' -- so they may be the oldest company still producing airsoft, but other companies may have been producing airsoft for longer. Hudson, which is often considered lower quality for our needs, is a good example of "early" airsoft guns (model guns that often aren't really designed to be gaming workhorses). When MGC closed up shop their tooling was bought up by KSC.

Maruzen and Murushin are two other early model/airsoft gun makers that are still around; other companies like JAC, Asahi and Kokusai (all defunct) are considered "classic airsoft." Their, along with MGC's, demise came around the same time Tokyo Marui (a R/C toy and model maker) put out an electric -powered airsoft gun in the mid 90s. Having a self-contained rifle rather than having to haul an external gas tank was considered much more realistic and attractive by most and AEGs quickly gained in popularity and helped establish airsoft as the sport we know it today.

Last but not least is Western Arms, originally an aftermarket parts maker for MGC 1911s and Beretta 92s, but they introduced several innovations including something called Magna Blowback: MGC and JAC had been the first companies to introduce blowback guns but WA's Magna system was by far superior and its general design and operating principals are now used in all blowback pistols and some rifles (such as WE's open bolt system and many SMGs).

[L473ncy]

No mention of Sun Project/Escort? That's old school classic stuff too.

BTW, I've heard that it was Tanio Koba (the "grandfather of airsoft") that originally worked for MGC but he then jumped ship to develop for TM or at least a couple engineers from MGC went to work for TM.

[Drake]

Tazuo Kobayashi.

And some MGC employees followed the tooling over to KSC.

MGC came back as "New MGC", too, but again its important to remember that it's a shop that occasionally produces its own models (as they were originally) -- not a manufacturer like KWA, WE, or TM.

[ThunderCactus]

I'm gonna say tokyo marui since they pioneered the AEG. They kicked off the right idea and everyone jumped on it.

[DI Sessa]

Did gas guns came before AEG's?

[pusangani]

Yes gas came first, TM pioneered the AEG. I'd say MGC is the oldest

[ThunderCactus]

before AEG's they had something close to a GBBR that used external air and AEG mags I believe.
Someone in MB used to have a pair of sun project guns. Nothing but problematic, had to get all the internals rebuilt out of stainless. Shitty hop up too, assuming it existed back then lol

[Danke]

No love for springers?

[pusangani]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

before AEG's they had something close to a GBBR that used external air and AEG mags I believe.
Someone in MB used to have a pair of sun project guns. Nothing but problematic, had to get all the internals rebuilt out of stainless. Shitty hop up too, assuming it existed back then lol

There were also Hybrids like the WA Jatimatic that used electric action to cycle and gas propulsion

Fun little gun, shot one before, made a funny electric whine accompanied by a soft pop pop

[ARC-74]

Anyone remember the LS springer airsoft model kits from the mid 80's?
(I still have my old AK-74 kit)

[BigDaddyTrask1]

Personally I don't have a clue, but I bet google would know!

[Sequential]

MGC. then WA. then TM.