TKOverKill

Just thought I would give you this news.

The owners of AGM and CYMA were arrested recently under Chinese Gun laws. AGM's assets were seized and their factory equipment, moulds and stock were destroyed.

CYMA is still being investigated and what will happen to the company is still not known yet.

For those that don’t know, the making of replica firearms in China is illegal. Most companies from Taiwan, Japan, USA and Hong Kong use several different factories to make parts then are built in the home countries to get around the laws.

AGM and CYMA seem to have flaunted this and manufactured and built the complete replicas onsite in one factory. Most Chinese companies pay grease money to local authorities to overlook such things but it seems CYMA and AGM either decided they no longer wanted to do so or couldn’t cover the costs.

I suggest anyone with AGM guns that require parts or upgrades that you get them now while retailers still have the parts as you will no longer be able to purchase them once they run out.

Oooo...I wonder if this is gonna be like Leica lenses...out of production, value goes up . Just kidding, I'm sure not. So actually, luckily the AGM is "mostly" WA/G&P WOC compatible. My AGM is no longer a complete unit even so if anyone's looking for AGM specific parts, I've got 'em.

Thx for the update FE!

Don't you see Leica's all over Akihabara?

Ok here is a direct link to the local papers.

http://szdaily.sznews.com/html/2009-09/2...794341.htm

Thats how it goes down over there in china. Hopefully this isnt the start of a much wider spread crackdown.

Happened here in Japan to several stores, Tanaka of Tanaka Airsoft not so long ago. The thing is that Airsoft is illegal in China, it's also illegal to manufacture replicas in China. So it doesn't really come as a suprise to me that they are cracking down on the larger establishments.

I do beleive I predicted that China would clamp down on this kind of thing after the Olympics.

Didnt they crack down before too? Either way, the overprices Japanese manufacturers should love this, less competition for them! I doubt those in Taiwan will be effected by this crackdown though, so at least WEI wont be effected!

Actually it affects a lot of companies including TM.

Basically a lot of companies from Taiwan, HK, Japan and USA rely on these manufacturers for OEM parts, King Arms for instance uses several of the more higher quality Chinese manufacturers to make parts and accessories for them.

What with the crackdown and two of the major factories being dismantled and stripped these companies will need to find a new source for OEM products, this will require new moulds, tooling and so on so. So it’s a setback to all Airsoft companies and a major drain on funds.

A lot of the bigger Airsoft names get around the law by having different parts of the guns made at several different locations, basically so you can’t possibly make a complete gun at one factory, or if for instance a complete mech box is made, then motors or barrels and hop units are made elsewhere. This gets around the law as they are building electric piston engines.

Also with the harsh sentencing in China this could have a ripple effect on other factories that are getting around the law or paying grease money and could result in more factories stopping production which would have a huge impact on the sport.

Good piece of news Fareast. I wouldn't worry tooo much about a lack of parts in the mid term. If there is vacuum, there's opportunity. But indeed we may see some temporary shortage and price increases as a result of this.