KWA Central

I would like to wish everyone, a Happy New Year for the start of 2013! I hope many cherishable memories were enjoyed with your families and friends during these seasonal holidays. Enjoy the last of your company and savor the remainders of your leftovers!

As the new year has started, a whole future lays ahead, I would like to take the time right now to address the lack of activity in the past few months, especially in response to many who been asking about KWA updates. In the past year, I have tried my very best as a full-time college student to provide a website that compiles many useful resources for Airsoft enthusiasts. As an enthusiast myself, I have always believed in providing insightful news and healthy communication in our Airsoft community, which brought about coverage for Shot Show and monthly updates on ETA and pricing of KWA’s future line-up. The need of providing an efficient medium led to the creation of this Airsoft Blog KWA Central. Just to remind many who still mix up KWA Central with KWA, KWA Central is a non-profit website, owned by myself, NOT by the actual KWA company. Keeping in mind that KWA Central is NOT an official KWA website…

In the last few months, I have had less time due to family and my last few quarters in college, to keep up with the latest updates from KWA and consistently post up them up, which is the reason for my declining activity. Instead of having many of you interested viewers continually check my website in hopes for any updates, I would like to save your time and formally announce that I am taking a break from KWA Central. In other words, I will most likely not cover KWA @ Shot Show 2013 or continue the monthly updates on ‘Upcoming Models,’ for now. I hope many of you understand and are not discouraged to finding the answer to your questions or interests. On the other hand, KWA Central will still be up as a website, so many of you can still reference back to it for any information found useful for your research and knowledge.

In the meantime, I would like to thank for all the support from KWA, friends, and many of you enthusiasts, that I have received thus far! I encourage that if you have any questions or concerns about KWA products or future line-up, to go over the official KWA Forums (click on the link to be redirected). Create a discussion there in the forum, as many other well-informed enthusiasts and KWA employees and moderators are active and quick to respond.

Once again, Have a Happy New Year!

-Greatwatermelon

The first shipments of the KWA Kriss Vector finally touchdown at KWA headquarters on Monday, to prove that not only that “it does exist,” but many who pre-ordered will be having them just in time for Christmas! The arrival prompted many KWA authorized resellers to swoop in at midnight and pick up as much of the first shipment they could can get hands on, to fulfill the piling pre-orders that retailers began accepting half way through this year. The KWA Kriss Vector supposedly arrived in “limited quantities.” If you are looking to get hands on one during this holiday season, you certainly will want to find KWA authorized resellers that still have them in stock and quickly snatch one up before they’re gone!

After the CQB length KWA CQR MOD 2 release in June, the full length KWA CQR MOD 1 finally shipped yesterday, out of the KWA warehouses. Expect to see them soon at KWA Authorized Dealerships!

URGENT NEWS AND DEVELOPMENT!  PLEASE DEFEND YOUR HOBBY AND YOUR LOVE FOR AIRSOFT!  

SB1315 has passed the California Assembly and is currently on the governor’s desk.   For those of you that do not know, SB 1315 is an identical version of SB 798 that sought to ban airsoft and imitation firearms throughout California.  Right now SB 1315 is now focused on  LA County but eventually the rest of the state!  This would affect not only KWA but many other airsoft retail stores and manufacturers that are based out of the LA Area.  Governor Brown has 10 days to sign the bill and pass it into law. WE HAVE NO TIME TO LOSE.

PLEASE have as many people you know in CA to call the governor’s office at (916) 445-2841 (press 1 for English, then press 6 for a representative) and say: My name is _______, I am calling about SB1315 and I oppose it.

PLEASE also have them go on to the governor’s website at: http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php and fill in his/her name, email, choose SB1315 from the dropdown menu and press “submit”. This will take you to another page where you will select “CON” and write a message to the governor.

PLEASE!  JOIN THE FIGHT! AND DO YOUR PART TO KEEP AIRSOFT ALIVE!

In my previous article ‘A Brief History between KSC and KWA,’ I tried my very best to iron out the differences between the two companies and their products. To follow up in making the picture clearer, I have been working on a timeline that compiles the key events from both the KWA LM4 PTR initial announcement to the final release of the KWA LM4 PTR itself. A special thanks to KWA for allowing me to view the documents and mail sent back and forth between KWA and ATF; I was able to sort out a timeline that, I believe, gives insight and possibly definite answers to anyone who has been puzzled over the 2 year long project of the KWA LM4 PTR as well as the seemingly early releases of the KSC M4 GBBR.

If the response is good, I’ll try adding more of these timelines, for example, the AK GBBR, and possibly even updates on the generations of other KWA products like the ATP. Enjoy!

-Greatwatermelon

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The Development of the KWA LM4 PTR GBBR

(1/19/2010) KWA LM4 PTR – The KWA LM4 GBBR was first Announced @ Shot Show 2010.

(4/16/2010)  KWA LM4 PTR – KWA sends the 1st prototype, the ‘KWA LM4A1 PTR 6mm caliber airsoft gun’ to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive (ATF) for the approval of being classified as NOT a ‘firearm.’

(5/27/2010) KWA LM4 PTR – Firearms Technology Branch (FTB) of ATF examines KWA LM4 sample and confirms modification and testing has been done. FTB was able to modify an actual AR upper receiver to fire a 5.56 cartridge using the LM4 PTR lower receiver assembly and fire-control components. FTB classifies ‘KWA LM4A1 PTR 6mm caliber airsoft gun’ as a “firearm.”

(6/24/2010) KSC M4 GBBR – Announced on KSC Website.

(10/26/2010) KSC M4 GBBR – Released in Japan (KWA’s early prototype, which is NOT ‘ATF Approved.’ KSC M4 GBBR therefore has an aluminum bolt out of the box; KSC later offers aftermarket steel bolts for users and retailers to purchase, and replace themselves.)

(3/24/2011) KWA LM4 PTR – 3rd Prototype sent to ATF for classification after major changes to design and dimensions in order to comply with ATF guidelines. (The 2nd Prototype was never sent to ATF.)

(5/25/2011) KSC M4 CQB-R GBBR – Announced on KSC Website

(6/23/2011) KWA LM4 PTR – ATF and FTB responds to classification under the provisions of Gun Control Act of 1968. FTB recognizes several changes and failed modify the KWA LM4 PTR to fire real ammunition. Based on the examination, FTB determines that the redesigned ‘KWA LM4A1 PTR 6mm Caliber airsoft rifle’ is NOT a “firearm.”

(6/28/2011) KWA LM4 PTR – KWA makes additional modifications and sends the 4th prototype, the ‘KWA LM4A1 PTR2 6mm Caliber airsoft rifle’ to the ATF.

(7/22/2011) KSC M4 CQB-R GBBR – Released in Japan (Still includes an Aluminum bolt)

(7/26/2011) KWA LM4 PTR – The 4th Prototype, the ‘KWA LM4 PTR2,’ is received by ATF. FTB fails to modify the KWA LM4 PTR to fire real ammunition. FTB determines that the redesigned ‘KWA LM4A1 PTR2 6mm Caliber airsoft rifle’ is also NOT a “firearm.”

(8/12/2011) KWA LM4 Magpul Edition – Announced on KWA website

(9/16/2011) KSC M4 Magpul Edition GBBR – First announced on Tokyo Central Hobbies Blog

(10/20/2011) KSC M4 Magpul Edition GBBR – Released (Still only includes an Aluminum bolt. Why did some or if not many KSC M4 GBBR’s come with steel bolts? Some Japanese retailers actually swapped the KSC M4 GBBR’s aluminum bolt with the aftermarket KSC steel bolt before selling to customers. KSC M4 GBBR series has never updated to the current generation like the KWA LM4 PTR The latest KSC M4 GBBR’s still remain as one of KWA’s earlier generation. M4 GBBR’s which is not ATF approved and therefore still illegal import to the USA.)

(9/22/2011) KWA LM4 GBBR – Announced as ATF Approved

(1/17/2012) KWA LM4C PTR – Announced @ Shot Show 2012

(5/16/2012) KWA LM4 PTR – Released

(6/22/2012) KWA LM4 Magpul Edition – Released

Sources:

1. Official KWA & ATF documents on the LM4 provided by KWA Performance Industries
2. KWA News & Announcement Page
3. KSC Announcement Page
4. Tokyo Central Hobbies Blog

City of Industry, CA, USA and Nyon, Switzerland – August 06, 2012 – KWA is excited to announce the appointment of Defiance Airsoft, a newly formed division of Defiance Systems SA, to be its exclusive distributor for Europe. Defiance Airsoft employs a dynamic and knowledgeable team that draws upon years of experience within the shooting industry.

“We couldn’t have found a better partner with a more suitable background and profile to handle our European distribution.” said Peter C Ching, President and CEO of KWA Performance Industries, Inc. He added, “Our relentless pursuit for product performance and customer service excellence have already made KWA a market leader in the US. By working with Defiance Airsoft, we are able to bring the same level of service and support to the European markets. This partnership will strengthen our market positions and reach new customers.”