| The history of "airsoft" originated in Japan during | | | | fired. |
| the mid-1970s, mainly because it was illegal to | | | | Mattel, the famous American toy company had |
| own firearms by private individuals. The first | | | | already marketed a product called "Shootin Shells" |
| airsoft guns available were spring-powered replicas | | | | way back in the 1950s. These guns were identical |
| of firearms that fired 6mm, plastic pellets or BBs. | | | | to the spring driven pellet guns and had |
| The gun then spread to China, Hong Kong, Korea, | | | | Stik-M-Caps that explode to emulate the sound of |
| Taiwan and the Philippines and became very | | | | gunfire. In the 1980s, Daisy BB Gun Company |
| popular chiefly because of firearm restrictions in | | | | manufactured spring gun models called Replisoft |
| these countries. | | | | and Soft Air shot at each other by opposing |
| The first airsoft guns were those air driven pellet | | | | players. |
| guns, cap-type guns and spring driven pellet guns. | | | | The popularity of airsoft guns in the United States |
| The early Japanese air driven pellet guns were | | | | and Europe began in the mid-1990s. There is |
| based on semi-automatic pistols. They were | | | | continued growing interest in the west. In 2003, |
| spring powered. The plastic pellet was propelled by | | | | Daisy started manufacturing and marketing airsoft |
| air when the spring piston was released. In the | | | | guns once again in the United States. |
| cap-type guns, powerful an explosive cap was | | | | "Powerstrike" is the brand name used by the |
| used to make the sound of gunfire and to eject | | | | company. Other manufacturers are following in |
| the spent cartridge. In spring driven pellet guns, a | | | | Daisy's footsteps and a host of different models |
| spring was used to propel the pellet held between | | | | have entered the United States airsoft gun |
| two small locks and released when the gun was | | | | market. |