The history of “airsoft” originated in Japan in the mid-1970s, mainly because owning firearms by private individuals was illegal. The first airsoft rifles available were replicas of spring-loaded firearms that fired 6mm, plastic shotguns or pistols. The pistol then spread to China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines and became very popular mainly due to restrictions on firearms in these countries.
The first airsoft guns were air pistols, pistols and spring guns. The first Japanese air pistols were based on semi-automatic pistols. They were on spring forces. The plastic pellet was moving in the air when the spring piston was released. Cap-type pistols used a powerful explosive cap to emit the sound of firing and to eject a cartridge. In spring-loaded rifles, the spring was used to move a bullet that was held between two small locks and released when fired.
Mattel, a well-known American toy company, launched a product called “Shootin Shells” in the 1950s. These guns were identical to a spring-loaded pistol and had Stik-M-Caps caps that explode to mimic the sound of a gun. In the 1980s, Daisy BB Gun Company produced spring models of pistols called Replisoft and Soft Air, which shot at each other with rival players.
The popularity of airsoft weapons in the United States and Europe began in the mid-1990s. Interest in the West is growing. In 2003, Daisy again began producing and selling airsoft guns in the United States. Powerstrike is a brand used by the company. Other manufacturers are following in Daisy’s footsteps, and many different models have entered the United States airsoft weapon market.