Realsword- The Nokia of airsoft?

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T14:14:35+0000

Realsword.

It makes me feel old but when I started airsoft, they were synonymous with the best quality externals you could find on an AEG, and were generally just good products.

Sure, the range is limited compared to other manufacturers, but what they make, they make well.

I think ever since Covid, they've slowly fallen out of people's minds, disappeared from the market, even used, and most airsofters who have entered the hobby since this period have probably never heard of them.

What if they made a resurgence? With full parts support and availability, they are still very much around on Facebook.

Pictured is the prototype QBU-88, and my old SVD.

Tackle · 2026-01-20T14:55:33+0000

Not sure what year Realsword became "the thing", for me, systema was a similar product, more expensive than most stuff on the market, allegedly the best available (in m4's lol), but then after a few years barely mentioned ?
What are you saying Ben, do you have an option to revive Realsword for the UK market ?

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T15:04:20+0000

Tackle said:
Not sure what year Realsword became "the thing", for me, systema was a similar product, more expensive than most stuff on the market, allegedly the best available (in m4's lol), but then after a few years barely mentioned ?
What are you saying Ben, do you have an option to revive Realsword for the UK market ?

Yeah, Systema at the time were very much a leader in an element of technological advancement for airsoft, and clearly that niche was appreciated by customers for some time.

Then, as always, other market developments slowly made them less and less appealing, the market focus shifted, and now the days of seeing Systemas in stores (and even skirmished really) are long behind us. I think Systema still manufactures for the security or military industry, but I could be mistaken.

I've been speaking to them recently again after some discussions last year. They want to relaunch (but only have Type 56 variants available at the minute) after the noticed drop-off. They still have spares for everything, including SVDs and Type 97s, both of which are now unfortunately out of stock.

They said they are ready to remanufacture the products at any time, depending on the market.

They told me they were about to launch the QBU-88 in 2020...and then I'm sure you can guess what crushed that.

Who knows, maybe in the future we might even see a totally new product launch, but I've been told it will have to be PLA / Norinco based.

I don't recall Realsword ever having a bad rep for quality or QC, the main issue after a while became spares and mags etc.

In the next few weeks I'll be looking to stock the Type 56s with magazines, take some out to games and see where we go from there

JimFromHorsham · 2026-01-20T15:46:35+0000

I could be recalling from a faded memory but whilst the externals were always great , were the internals not total cheese ?

mightyjebus · 2026-01-20T16:09:09+0000

I've got a Real Sword Type 56 here and the new Akriva GBB Type 56's look very much like Real Sword externals. Wonder if that is the case?

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T16:13:48+0000

JimFromHorsham said:
I could be recalling from a faded memory but whilst the externals were always great , were the internals not total cheese ?

Not that I remember, although anyone is free to correct me here. The only problem I remember with anything internal related, is due to the SVD having no mosfet, you'd have to use a flathead to sort it out once it got locked up!

mightyjebus said:
I've got a Real Sword Type 56 here and the new Akriva GBB Type 56's look very much like Real Sword externals. Wonder if that is the case?

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T16:14:45+0000

mightyjebus said:
I've got a Real Sword Type 56 here and the new Akriva GBB Type 56's look very much like Real Sword externals. Wonder if that is the case?

I've heard the Akriva used Norinco bodies, whether or not this is true, I don't know, but given what people say about Realsword, it might be

Colin Allen · 2026-01-20T17:06:50+0000

JimFromHorsham said:
I could be recalling from a faded memory but whilst the externals were always great , were the internals not total cheese ?

I have a QBZ-97 and the internals are very decent.

Impulse · 2026-01-20T17:35:10+0000

One of my friends has a RS SVD, and he couldn't get them to send him a new gearbox as his stock one has cracked, making the gun a wall-hanger. We just assumed they were either out of business, or wholly disinterested in helping (he wasn't asking for it for free, was willing to pay for a new gearbox)

Cannonfodder · 2026-01-20T17:38:30+0000

From what I remember the biggest issues with real sword guns was that they were expensive and used proprietary parts and mags which weren't the easiest to get gold of.

Colin Allen · 2026-01-20T17:44:13+0000

BenJackson said:
Yeah, Systema at the time were very much a leader in an element of technological advancement for airsoft, and clearly that niche was appreciated by customers for some time.

Then, as always, other market developments slowly made them less and less appealing, the market focus shifted, and now the days of seeing Systemas in stores (and even skirmished really) are long behind us. I think Systema still manufactures for the security or military industry, but I could be mistaken.

I've been speaking to them recently again after some discussions last year. They want to relaunch (but only have Type 56 variants available at the minute) after the noticed drop-off. They still have spares for everything, including SVDs and Type 97s, both of which are now unfortunately out of stock.

They said they are ready to remanufacture the products at any time, depending on the market.

They told me they were about to launch the QBU-88 in 2020...and then I'm sure you can guess what crushed that.

Who knows, maybe in the future we might even see a totally new product launch, but I've been told it will have to be PLA / Norinco based.

I don't recall Realsword ever having a bad rep for quality or QC, the main issue after a while became spares and mags etc.

In the next few weeks I'll be looking to stock the Type 56s with magazines, take some out to games and see where we go from there

Who are you talking to at RS? Do you know anyone who has managed to buy spare parts from them and have them arrive? Unless there has been a drastic change, the person running the FB page had no access to any product, despite claims made on the page.

Colin Allen · 2026-01-20T18:49:11+0000

Cannonfodder said:
From what I remember the biggest issues with real sword guns was that they were expensive and used proprietary parts and mags which weren't the easiest to get gold of.

Lots of proprietary parts; I have at least two of everything that could reasonably fail. I haven't had any issues with mags for the QBZ-97.

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T19:00:09+0000

Impulse said:
One of my friends has a RS SVD, and he couldn't get them to send him a new gearbox as his stock one has cracked, making the gun a wall-hanger. We just assumed they were either out of business, or wholly disinterested in helping (he wasn't asking for it for free, was willing to pay for a new gearbox)

Will he sell it?

In all seriousness, they are telling me they have them in stock, as well as tapped plates and all other internals. When did he contact them?

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T19:01:08+0000

Cannonfodder said:
From what I remember the biggest issues with real sword guns was that they were expensive and used proprietary parts and mags which weren't the easiest to get gold of.

Yeah for the last few years that has certainly been the case. In the last 12 months or so, they've posted more on Facebook, YouTube and are also responsive to emails.

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T19:02:34+0000

Colin Allen said:
Who are you talking to at RS? Do you know anyone who has managed to buy spare parts from them and have them arrive? Unless there has been a drastic change, the person running the FB page had no access to any product, despite claims made on the page.

I know someone who bought an ex-display Type 97 from them recently, a customer of my own no less, and he has the photos to prove it.

The lady is called Helen, but there are other members of staff that other people have spoken to.

Colin Allen · 2026-01-20T19:11:23+0000

BenJackson said:
I know someone who bought an ex-display Type 97 from them recently, a customer of my own no less, and he has the photos to prove it.

The lady is called Helen, but there are other members of staff that other people have spoken to.

Interesting; there has clearly been a significant change, which may tie up with rumours that they are under new ownership. Helen has been there for years.

Impulse · 2026-01-20T19:47:45+0000

BenJackson said:
Will he sell it?

In all seriousness, they are telling me they have them in stock, as well as tapped plates and all other internals. When did he contact them?

A while ago. Closer to Covid time. He gave up trying after a year

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T19:48:00+0000

Colin Allen said:
Interesting; there has clearly been a significant change, which may tie up with rumours that they are under new ownership. Helen has been there for years.

I believe that's the case, due to some...."political situations" regarding the business previously...

BenJackson · 2026-01-20T19:49:27+0000

Impulse said:
A while ago. Closer to Covid time. He gave up trying after a year

Yep, that's when it all went to shit. He's not the only person, I believe there are many people who actually paid and just never received their items.

If he still has it and wants some money for it, I'll buy it. Might be worth another email if he wants to fix it.

Colin Allen · 2026-01-20T19:57:24+0000

BenJackson said:
I believe that's the case, due to some...."political situations" regarding the business previously...

Indeed; falling foul of Winnie and his minions is never a good idea.

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