Historical airsoft guns
Historical weapons in airsoft
When someone mentions the term "historical replicas", we often think of structures from at least the period of World War II. Our imaginations are dominated by constructions with wooden stocks, often bolt-action rifles. And there's a lot of truth in that. Due to the fact that this conflict is widespread both in pop culture and in general consciousness, many people are at least familiar with the weapons used at that time. However, this is only part of the offer of historical replicas. This term itself is also quite fluid.
It is assumed that historical airsoft covers the times until the Vietnam War. This conflict lasted until 1975. Can replicas of weapons developed before this year be called historical? In that case, AK-74 variants could also be included here. And this weapon system is widely used to this day. Certainly, all replicas of the AKM rifle and its derivatives could easily be included in this group. In general, the designs based on the AR-15 are the same, because they were developed earlier than 1975. The matter is not made easier by the fact that firearm systems often have a chance to appear in a known armed conflict only a few years after their development. So, for simplicity's sake, let's assume that historical replicas will be based on weapons used in armed conflicts until 1975. Personally, I would move this date a little later, but for simplicity's sake, it is probably worth focusing on the Vietnam War. It may turn out that the equipment that we consider quite modern will have to be called historic and we will feel like the figure in the graphic below.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/MemeTemplatesOfficial/
For those interested in World War II
There is a reason why it is worth mentioning this conflict at the beginning. As I have already noted, this is a war widely present in pop culture and social consciousness. Thanks to this, many people can at least vaguely identify weapons from this period. Some rifle silhouettes from this period have become iconic. They are present in films, computer games and other media. Thanks to this, we can easily recognize them. Their airsoft counterparts are a great idea if we are interested in historical games or LARPs.
Personally, I have my preferences in this regard. If I had to choose any type of weapon from this period, I would choose some type of submachine gun. In real conditions, I would have an advantage in rate of fire. It's similar in airsoft. I could shower opponents with bolt action rifle replicas with BBs. We have a large selection of such structures. Manufacturers known for both budget and higher-priced airsoft guns offer submachine guns from World War II.
However, if you need something for a specific style, you will usually have no problem finding an airsoft gun corresponding to a specific side of the conflict in this war. Replicas of the German Kar-98 are another interesting proposition in this segment. All you need to do is complete the tactical equipment and historical games are open to you.
Vietnam War
The first war that was so heavily covered in the media was the Vietnam War. This is the conflict that resulted in many changes in soldier’s gear. Thanks to its presence in pop culture, it also exists in the collective consciousness. As in the case of the activity discussed above, this causes many people to be associated with the equipped device. Uniforms, equipment and equipment from this period are a treat for collectors and people interested in styling in airsoft games.
Choosing an airsoft rifle from this period we have quite a good selection to choose from. If I had something to do myself, I would probably choose an AKM replica. This design is an unusual choice that offers many equipment options. Of course, not disconnected from the power supply, the actuation device and the first version of the M16 carbines from this launch. This type of light seems to be very deeply rooted in the consciousness of airsoft players. those who grew up watching war films describing the conflict in question.
Historical airsoft - summary
As the years pass, we should also shift the boundary separating historical airsoft from contemporary styling. As I mentioned earlier, the generally accepted border is the Vietnam conflict. However, I would wonder whether it is worth pushing this boundary, at least for a decade or two. This opens up interesting new styling possibilities. You can try to recreate the British armed forces during the Falklands-Malvinas War. A properly adapted FN FAL, or more correctly SLR replica is definitely an interesting prospect. Plus, classic belt set and a uniform in DPM camouflage. This is quite an interesting and rather rare way to build your equipment.
Finally, it is worth summarizing historical airsoft. This is definitely an interesting branch of our hobby. Its greatest advantage is that the equipment and styles built for it are used for real gaming. This is a very interesting aspect. It makes you think about how difficult it was to use equipment from years ago. This helps us gain an appreciation for the modern equipment and facilities we use today.
Fortunately, the market for equipment and airsoft guns is evolving more and more. Also, towards equipment styled after this historical one. From time to time, new replicas of classic rifles from military conflicts from years ago appear. Moreover, they are becoming better and better reproduced. Sometimes they work almost identically to their flammable counterparts. The offer of tactical equipment is developing in the same way. Today it is easier than ever to start your path towards historical airsoft. The first step is to find equipment that we are interested in or like. This may be the hardest part though.
Author: Boreq
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