| According to researchers, the first airsoft | | | | America. European countries started to use |
| guns were introduced to the Japanese market | | | | these guns in an innovative way to combat |
| around the 80's. Firearms were not available | | | | young gang members, on the other hand |
| to the population so those interested in guns | | | | American companies started developing and |
| had to resort to the only weapons which | | | | producing such airsoft guns for sports |
| closely resembled them. Early guns were made | | | | because the guns are realistic and the BB's |
| of wood and metal which made them very | | | | don't hurt as much as 0.5 caliber paintballs. |
| expensive, some years later a new type of gun | | | | |
| was invented, one which was cheaper compared | | | | Because of the non-lethal nature of these |
| to the originals, the first few weapons | | | | guns they are constantly used by military and |
| designed under this concept were quire | | | | law enforcement agencies to simulate real |
| realistic and even managed to fool expert | | | | world combat situations in order to train |
| shooters. | | | | their agents. The airsoft weapons which are |
| | | | used and sold to these agencies are not |
| Airsoft guns shoot small plastic ball rounds | | | | available for sale to the public because they |
| which were called BB by Asian manufacturers. | | | | are considered too realistic for people to |
| The caliber varied from model to model. Due | | | | carry around. |
| to the popularity of this gun type several | | | | |
| manufacturers started working on them in | | | | Airsoft weapons are also used in movie sets |
| order to improve their accuracy, shape and | | | | because they resemble real weapons extremely |
| performance, quickly thereafter they started | | | | well, however, this innovation did come with |
| to be used for skirmishing or gaming. | | | | a price, during the early 90's when the |
| | | | airsoft arms were being used in this industry |
| As you might have guessed this is the type of | | | | there were fatal accidents which lead to the |
| weapon used in paintball wars (game). The | | | | death of Bruce Lee's son after one of these |
| first continent where they were used in such | | | | guns was loaded with real rounds instead of |
| manner was Asia, then Europe and later on | | | | blanks. |