Selling BB guns and Airsoft Pistols that look like real guns is apparently a booming business in and around Asheville. I see Airsoft products advertised around Asheville quite a bit. And I ran across this guy’s YouTube videos, and it’s clear that BB guns that look just like real guns are big around Western North Carolina. We already have a strong pro-gun culture, so why not? The kicker is that these BB guns are often marketed to children. In actuality, onlybbguns believe even adults can have great fun with them. I see no reason why not, as it can actually be a great way to spend time with your child whilst also protecting them from using the bb guns in an incorrect fashion. You can even get advice on the best air guns to get by clicking here.
The YouTube guy, named Frank, calls himself crazyncman, and says his videos have received more than 250,000 views on the interwebs. In the videos, he coaches young men on the ins and outs, pros and cons, of the guns he helps pedal through Carolina Airsoft. Watch one of his videos, and you’ll get his review of the gun, and a shooting demonstration at the end. (In the video below, he reviews an Airsoft version of an AK-47.)
Here’s more, from crazyman himself, touting his success:
From it’s humble start I now have over 1200 subscribers and just passed 250,000 hits to my videos. My You Tube videos also were the start of The Airsoft Soldier. I wanted a place to not only put my videos but other relevent airsoft information.
My real name is Frank and I live in Western North Carolina. I am 42 year old widowed man with a 7 year old son(mini-crazyNCman). We lost his mother about 6 years ago. Before tranforming into the stay at home dad I worked with a machine tool distributer as a service engineer. Now I spend my time taking care of the kid and trying to get an airsoft production company going. If you have land and want to host airsoft scenario games then contact me!
I have been into airsoft a couple years now and really love it. It all started when I was shopping online for the kids christmas presents. I was trying to find him some toy guns that were a little more realistic than what he had. Airsoft was not totally new to me but I did not know there was this whole “scene”. So searching on eBay for a toy gun I came across and airsoft gun auction that had a You Tube video in it. This was not your ordinary product video but a skirmish vid! After watching that and then searching for more airsoft videos I was hooked. I bought a gun and some gear and headed out on a cold December day to my first airsoft game.
So what do you think — is it ok to put realistic looking toy guns in the hands of children? (America has been doing this a long time, there’s no doubt.) Do you own an Airsoft gun? Tell me about it.
Meantime, watch a crazyman video:
12 Comments
I am an airsoft player, and have been one for about 4 years now. I have to say, the way your article was written (and it might just be the way I am reading it) seemed you are a little biased against airsoft guns. I would just like to offer my 2 cents on the subject, and your article as well.
The most important aspect of airsoft that many people seem to overlook if they aren’t active in the airsoft community is this, the three things that matter most in our sport are the following, and they are in order of importance:
#1 – SAFETY
#2 – HONOR
#3 – HAVING FUN
Now, here are some things I would like to share my point of view with you and anyone else who might be reading it.
1) We (The airsoft community) prefer not to refer to our replicas as "BB Guns", since many people have grown to associate BB Guns as Pellet Rifles and other airguns used for hunting or pest control. Airsoft guns are to be used in a recreational aspect, meaning we don’t hunt animals with them…only humans 😉
2) Yes, it is true that most airsoft guns look extremely similar to real firearms, although we do take precautions to make sure that they can still be told apart from actual firearms. You’ll notice that any airsoft gun that comes into the country from overseas will come with a blaze orange tip at least 1/4" long. This orange tip will usually be coated with glue from the inside, and sometimes even screwed to the outer barrel. Of course, people are always going to find a way to remove the orange tip, or cover it, but there are still some ways of telling the difference. Any airsoft gun that is imported from overseas has to go through customs. If customs finds that any realistic firearms manufacturers’ (i.e. Colt, H&K, etc.) trademarks are on an airsoft replica, they will be removed via a dremel, burning, or putting clay over the markings. The only way this will not happen is if either customs does not do their job to the fullest (which rarely happens) or if you purchase an officially liscensed product (meaning that the real firearms manufacturers have given that company permission to use their name). Nonetheless, most airsofters are responsible to keep their gun in bags and cases whenever they are in the public eye.
3) Just a little pet-peeve of mine, but you said that Frank teaches YOUNG MEN about airsoft. In truth, both young men, young women, old men, and old women all play the sport equally. I personally play with people that are 50+ years of age, as well as people in their teen years.
4) You also said that airsoft is marketed to children. This I would consider to only be partially true. Yes, young people watch these internet videos and whatnot more than the older players in most cases. However, this does not mean that any child can go and buy an airsoft gun. All airsoft retailers are only allowed to sell airsoft gun to people over 18 years of age, and will card anyone planning to purchase a replica if they look to be close to that age. Now, is that to say that younger people cannot get their hands on airsoft guns? Certainly not. Once that gun leaves the store, the retailer isn’t responsible for whose hands it gets in. But that still is another aspect of airsoft that is based on honor.
5) I personally will not dignify anyone who does not use an airsoft gun safely as an "Airsoft Player". In my book, they are a person with an airsoft gun, nothing more. I have directed many of my aquaintences to play airsoft safely, and now many of them attend my local (and legal) airsoft field with me. The more knowledgable people are about airsoft, the less frequent these accidents will happen.
6) Not all airsoft players have desires to join the Military or Law Enforcement, although I am not one of them. Many people just do it because it is fun and a good way to exercise.
7) Lastly, airsoft really has not been around THAT long. I believe it originated overseas around the late 70’s or 80’s.
Airsoft is a lot of fun. The guns do look realistic and could easily be mistaken for a real gun. If you are irresponsible and act like a moron then you should not own an airsoft gun………or a real one for that matter.
great website, some good stuff on there.
I do play Airsoft, and I have to say it is just like any other sport you are in it to have fun! Every time I have ever played it was always with fun and safety the first priority. I have lost a fair amount of weight since I have started playing as well, you do a lot of running and it inspires team work and cooperation, so as long as you are smart in the way you handle your Airsoft gun and play in a safe environment you too will have the time of your lives guaranteed!
*sigh* Well be careful out there.
Miss Daisy,
If it did not look like a real gun people would not buy it. They look like guns guns only seen in movies or in the military so it is kind of neat to be holding something that looks cool.
This is another reason paint ball players are moving over to Airsoft.
Glad I didn’t add duh because it would have been rude to Frank 🙂
Would it not be just as fun to play with guns that didn’t look like real guns?
Frank, you ARE famous. Thanks for stopping by.
There’s a good reason why it was hard to find realistic looking toy guns. Even unrealistic looking toy guns have led to some unfortunate outcomes. I’m tempted to add ‘duh’.
Hey cool blog on the one and only ME! Now I am even more famous.
Just wanted to add my two cents worth here. One you have to be 18 years old or older to buy one or your parents have to be present if you are under 18. It’s a great sport that helps young adults get out from behind that video game screen and outside getting exercise in the fresh air. We also have many parents who play right along side their kids so it is a win win situation for everybody.
I invite anyone who reads this blog to come on out and try it. You will probably find yourself having a great time and getting physically fit in the process! Just email me off my website and I will let you borrow some equipment to try it out!
Frank, a.k.a. crazyNCman
I had a friend in college who was arrested for pointing a "realistic-looking" squirt gun at a meter lady. He was lucky not to get shot by the PD in the process.
Actually I do own a Airsoft gun. I just got it. I also ran into Frank at the Airsoft Carolina store in Arden. He is not Crazy, just a nice guy having fun. Note: He was just in the store shopping.
Airsoft guns are realistic toys but should only be used on a playing field so that you don’t scare your neighbors. Note: Eye and face protection is mandatory at all games. They are powerful, but not as powerful as the air rifles they sell kids at Walmart.
Now as for my philosophy concerning kids playing with realistic guns and growing up to join the army so they can kill the enemy. I grew up being able to play with toy guns and bb guns and had no desire to join the military or go to war even with a career military father. Now on the other hand my friend that was never allowed to play with guns or even own a BB gun Joined the army when he was 18 and was shipped off the Persian Gulf War. How bought them apples.
Airsoft is a safe sport like any other using realistic toy guns that shoot plastic BBs.
It is also great exercise.