There is a great divide between airsoft companies. The majority of quality manufacturers can be found on the internet, but have little to no street presence, except at specialty shops. However, small street airsoft stores can be found in many areas. Airsoft guns are also prevalent at swap meets, which usually carry Chinese-made airsoft guns that have plastic bodies.

High end companies, which mostly manufacture AEGs and Gas Blowbacks, include:

* Tokyo Marui, the very pinnacle of airsoft technology and durability (while kept stock)
* G&G (Guay Guay Gunshop), specializes in internal and external upgrades and accessories. G&G have also launched their own line of high-quality AEGs as of late.
* Western Arms, largely specializing on the 1911 .45 and its derivatives
* Tanaka, which specializes in high-powered gas gun revolvers and rifles
* Classic Army, an emerging rival to Tokyo Marui with metal bodies and some Marui components (ie the motor).
* TOP, specializes in manufacture of light and heavy machine gun airsoft replicas
* Star, specializing in more expensive, highly realistic, easy-to-disassemble airsoft guns
* Systema, which specializes in high end training weapons and internal and external upgrades and accessories
* G&P, specializes in aftermarket upgrades and external accessories
* KSC/KWA, largely a pistol manufacturing company, though endeavors to rifles have been made
* Maruzen
* Marushin
* KJW (Kuan Ju Works), manufactures medium quality handguns. These guns are popular due to their low price, and availability of low-priced, metal-constructed replicas. KJW guns do not carry replicated trademarks, so the accuracy of the replicas is limited.
* ICS(I Chih Shivan), ICS is considered by some as one of the “big 3″ most popular gun manufacturers(also including Classic Army and Tokyo Marui). Their guns typically come with Metal bodies without trademarks. They make Armalites, MP5s, and one AK-47 replica. Their MP5 feature quick takedown bodies. They also came out with the split gearbox in which the cylinder module disconnects from the lower gearbox for easier repair and upgrade.
* Olympic Arms, These guns are basically ICS Armalites with licensed trademarks.
* Airsoft Elite, A separate company that imports and domestically pre-upgrades ICS guns.

Middle-range companies, which produce lower budget alternatives to higher priced guns with the tradeoff that they have a slightly lower velocity (depending on the brand), include:

* FIREPOWER (Palco Sports)
* UTG
* SRC
* SoftAir USA (CyberGun)
* Both Elephant (Manufacturer)
* UHC
* HFC (Ho Feng Company)
* MATRIX
* WELL (R series): A higher grade of the WELL/CYMA guns
* JG

(Select FIREPOWER, UTG and SRC guns have proven to be Tokyo Marui compatible, and upgradeable, although you are still better off getting a higher quality replica if possible.)

Entry level companies, which mainly produce springers and low powered electric guns (LPEG), include:

* CYMA/WELL (non R-Series)
* Double Eagle
* JLS
* CSI
* Neonfire
* BOYI

Some of these companies’ placements may be disputable, but are based on overall quality of all their products.

Along with the named companies, a few companies who were prominent in the earlier stages of airsoft include:

* Tokyo Marui
* Yonezawa
* LS
* Falcon/Hudson
* MGC Bondshop of Japan
* Marushin
* Maruzen
* Marukoshi
* Kokusai
* JAC
* Asahi

Posted by Airsoft Reviews in Airsoft Beginners Guide