The Lowdown: Marushin's Folly?
Entry posted by Guest ·
282 views
I typed about half of this as a reply in a PM to questions about the different available Marushin Derringers, but it seemed useful enough for everyone so here it is (adjusted and blogified to be more betterer, like 
)
I would have got back to the guy yesterday; I had the reply typed out, twice in fact, then had a power failure both times before I finished - damned parents using their dodgy old chainsaw and hedgetrimmer at the same time. Silly, silly 'rents... Right -
The difference between the differently priced Derringers you see on retailer's websites is, I believe, that there are 2 releases; an older one in 6mm flavour with pretty crappy (by today's standards) finish and general quality; and the new release version is 8MM and a better finish, but even then, of course, it is only a small cheap gun so the ABS is quite obviously ABS and could not even pretend to be metal on these even if it really tried; studying hard at looking shiny in it's spare time, really going for that wanton, carefree metallic aura as if its happy to shed an electron at the merest sign of an introduction.
Really, its not as easy as it looks to anthropomorphicise an airsoft gun
Despite that I do love mine and its a solid little piece, the main advantage it has though is the fact it is part of their newer SSB range - Marushin's Super Sonic Barrel technology really does seem to move ammo out into the big wide world at great speed, especially considering it’s the more massive 8mm ammo it is firing. The Derringer itself loses the benefit of a long barrel which I guess really helps the BBs to be `super sonic` but it’s a great little shooter nonetheless and the SSB range in general is very, very good. Still, the company's products in general are not the most favourable in today's market - Marushin are, as I was pondering upon last night (hence the now-forthcoming eulogy on the matter ), great idea-manufacturers, as they take on a lot of the older styles of weaponry to make guns from classic eras that no-one else dares to touch - WWII and Western themes run thickly through their catalogue - but their actual technology and the durability thereof really isn't the best:
The M1 Garand that no-one else has dared to make at an affordable level (Smokeys, you can put your hand down right now!), has unfortunately proved to be temperamental and technologically over-ambitious as a reliable release. Shame, because its a beautiful gun to fire when it works 
The M1892 Winchesters - plagued with problems since its release and generically suffering with low-quality and brittle gas hoses (much like the Maruzen M870 and M1100) that prevent any simple and easily affordable upgrades (or in the case of the M1892, any upgrades at all AFAIK).
The Mauser Kar98 - shell system is fiddly and ineffective, gas venting issues abound and it pales in comparison to the mighty Tanaka version, which, although to be fair, p***es over pretty much everything else anyway.
Their NBB automatic pistol range – yes I know its an old range but goddamn if those internals don’t feel like stone cogs and sears rather than metal – the KJ Ruger Mk1 is probably a copy of the Marushin and the M84 by Marushin seems to have the similar heavy trigger pull and clunky, low-grade metallic internals. From this I infer that their automatic handgun range (not the revolvers, in other words) is based on an old and tired system that puts too much emphasis onto the trigger pull, and generally only works temperately, or rather, tepidly, to say the least.
The M500 Mossberg range – my personal favourites (have 2, love them lots) but also temperamental; the charging handles break if pumped with much enthusiansm and my M500 shorty has jammed more than 5 times, requiring lots of playing around, swearing and abuse in general. I have killed lots and lots of people in-game with it though so it bloody well works, but the Mariner edition has gas venting tendancies and also is pretty stiff to operate and also has power issues – i.e. it ain’t powerful enough. For a $300+ shotgun that’s a bit of a ######, to be honest.
Saving graces are the revolver series; although not without their faults they do have those wonderful brass cartridges, and they work very well, although gas tanks in the handles seems to be another bone of contention for consumers because they made slightly naff grips right outside of those little gas tanks, inevitably making most owners wanting to replace them with real-steel or custom grips that felt a bit more solid – something you cannot do very easily due to the design of the integral tank. Not great thinking on the part of the designers there either, as these wheelguns with excellent grips would be real standout pieces of work as almost everything else about them is fantastic. Except the uber-light plastic of the Super Redhawk, but hey 
But there are of course true exceptions to the Marushin tale of woe and bitterness, most notably, in fact, a WWII-themed exception because according to Snowman (who really ought to know about these things) the Marushin M712 Broomhandle Mauser is one hell of a fantastic gun, which goes against the grain of the rest of their work as it’s a smooth, solid NBB that doesn't break, cost loads or have egregious points that grinds almost every owners gears, and its even a classic-era gun to boot! If the new HFC copies are indeed copies of the Marushin as Snowie has noticed, then they must be pretty damned good as I’ve got 2 of the new HFCs, so yes, they can buck the trend.
But still I see Marushin - as a commercial airsoft entity - as `ever the bridesmaid, never the bride`. I can’t see them taking the leadership of any one facet of the industry at any point because they always seem lagging behind WA and Tanaka in the finish and refinement stakes, behind Marui in terms of reliability, and drifting aimlessly at the tails of all of them in the (failed) potential marketplace of upgrades and accessorising.
But, the future could be very bright for them yet, as the one thing they don’t seem afraid to do is innovate and take chances. They are Ideas Merchants, and they have made some unique guns that scared off all other companies; they pioneered the 8mm revolution, remember, and although only few companies have taken that ball and actually run with it (a revolution of only a few lazy turns, so far ) it is still a whole different calibre in games and a whole different system of energies and trajectory refinement with which to use, and take advantage of, in airsofting.
Take this as a sign of either foolhardiness or bravery in the marketplace, the choice is yours, but the best of Marushin must be yet to come as technology all round becomes ever more refined, appreciated and accessible.
2 Comments
Recommended Comments