Whats the difference?
 

Planning on getting an MP7 GBB but I hadn't noticed this when I was shopping for 1.

KSC System7, I believe this is the 40th anniversary limited edition that people raved about a month ago? Then I found this KWA/Umarex MP7.

Now correct me if I'm wrong but I was to understand that KSC and KWA are the same company. So what is the difference between the 2 GBBs to justify almost a $100US price difference? The KWA hasn't been released so I haven't found any info via google.

One is the OEM company for the other.

One is located in Taiwan and the other Japan. The "Taiwanese version" is essentially the OEM product whereas when you buy the "Japanese version" supposedly the QC is better or something.

I wish we had a CQB around here....

KSC is the OEM, it's based out of Japan, parts get sent to Taiwan for assembly, get sent out as KWA, the ones that are labelled as KSC get sent back to Japan for a second QC, then shipped out.

Then again, KSC and KWA Glock 19 frames are TOTALLY different, weight and material (and quality), and some KSC have the Japan stamp on the frame somewhere, others don't. So I'm really not sure if they are the asme company or even related, KSC could be also Taiwan based for assembly, totally separate from KWA.

So essentially, both could potentially be the same gun but the KSC has the added cost of additional quality control? Or at the very least, have been produced from a different factory with more or less, the same parts.

KSC charges a little more than they should, while KWA actually undercuts KSC pricing. Any additional QC on KSC's part is doubtful.

Same Taiwanese factory, same Taiwanese parts.

Actual differences:
- Material (KSC intended for the Japanese market has a lower metal content, KSC intended for rest of Asia is the same as KWA)
- Power (KSC intended for the Japanese market has its power limited, KSC intended for rest of Asia is the same as KWA)
- Market (KSC is Asia, KWA is US and EU)
- Trademark/model (ex. KWA avoid Glocks due to Glock's very active legal team, while KSC has Glocks since it operates in countries where Glock has trouble enforcing copyright)

Ok, that's confusing as shit. Lol

Scared me for a second until i realized that i ordered a KSC Taiwan USP. NOT a KWA USP. but i agree. the KWA stuff is not as good as the KSC (regardless if it is the Japan or Taiwan based stuff).

the Japanese and Taiwanese KSC products are identical save for trades (more on the Japan version) and apparently, the Japan version has higher QC. other than that, they are identical. The same can NOT be said for KWA.

(i thought) KWA was a USA based company that took its products from KSCs Taiwanese assembly line. Essentially, their guns are KSC guns made for the American market.

I have two KSC G19s and a parts gun KWA G19, totally different frames, the KWA is shiney black and lightweight, the KSCs are a dark greyish colour and heavier. If KWA is the same company as KSC, why does the KWA come stock with a metal slide and the KSC doesn't have that as an option?

EDIT: My bad, been a long time since I explained this, I now remember that KSC has it's base in Japan and has assembly in Taiwan, hence the KSC guns and the KSC Japanese version. KWA has nothing to do with KSC at all, except identical design.

KSC with metal slide and frame are available. They're generally labelled as "Taiwan version", or something to that effect.

KWA was spawned directly off KSC, and are still closely connected.

I've owned both the Japan and Taiwanese versions of the G19, both are identical, except for the two Japanese versions have JAPAN stamped in the frame where the rail notch is. None came with a metal slide. (I've owned five Glock 19s, three are KSC Japan, one was Taiwanese, the other is KWA, the only one that comes with a metal slide........and cheapo frame.)

I can believe the latter part of your post though, parts are identical design wise and are interchangable.

It really isn't about whether to believe me or not, it's all about browsing HK retailer sites.

For example: http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwol...l?prodID=13385

You'll also notice that most of non-Glock GBBs under KSC are listed with metal slides, or metal slide and frame.

It's funny years ago when I needed parts for a KSC gun they told be I had to contact KWA because they handle all out of japan business. but now they are trying to separate themselves from KSC and say they are an OEM for KSC and two different companies.

http://www.kwausa.com/cs_faqs.html

So it seems the general consensus is KSC.

Now heres is the next question. I was told that because the gun is too new, there are no replacement or aftermarket parts. My concern here is that because the KSC is limited production, will I see any parts for this gun at all? Will the KWA MP7 be the same?

I'll tear into a KSC MP7 later this week. I have no idea what nozzle/parts/replacement parts it'll take...but I aim to find out.

Tys

http://www.airsocom.com/Airsoft_Gun_...y/ksc_kwa.html

If a company produces 2 lines of
nearly identical products, but markets
one with trades to Japan, and the
rest mostly unmarked or not identical
to the real steel company it's cloning,
then you know it's probably because
they don't have a legal agreement to
reproduce the brands and logos.

It's a copyright infringement issue.

A lot of airsoft replicas cost more
because they have the rights to make
their toy with the consent of the real
steel maker ie: WA and CA make
lines of product that pay real steel
makers to use their brands and make
an exact reproduction.

AH FFS, I may have to bail on this idea. My laptop went seriously bust on me.

They're actually two completely different companies, but KWA does license/purchase product moulds from KSC to manufacture products under their own brand. It saves them the time and cost to research and develop an original product from the ground up (many manufacturers work this way). They then manufacture and assemble the product from their own choice of materials and under their own guideline of quality control, which is why their product is generally inferior in grade and quality compared to KSC... but is also why the price is so much cheaper. You get what you pay for.

This is also why many of the parts between these two companies are cross compatible, but vary greatly in regards to quality and material.

KSC Japan and KSC Taiwan are the same company, but are imported/exported and sold within their own domestic markets under their own guidelines. KSC Japan products have higher quality control, compared to KSC Taiwan. KSC Taiwan is entirely different from KWA, and still maintains higher product quality than KWA.

I got the KSC MP7 in my grubby grease-stained hands this past Sunday and gave it a little shake down. Just a couple of mags and just a touch more than a field strip.

I am very impressed. The plastic molding, thickness and accuracy of fit between parts is excellent. It's basically a pistol jammed into a SMG/PDW format...and shoots just like a good pistol. Controls are positive and feel good...the levers don't feel like they're going to fall off or bend/break. It's a solid piece.

I took the nozzle assembly apart so I could send some photos off to a friend to find spare parts. I want to run propane through this but don't want to risk blowing the nozzle until I have some spares on hand. I ran duster with an AI adaptor. Functioning was stellar...FPS was a bit low but fine for CQB.

In my search for a couple of nozzles I called KWA USA and spoke to one of their guys. He was a bit of prick about things and very tight-lipped about any reference to KSC. His official line (and he was quite good at sticking to it) was (paraphrased a bit), "I am supposed to say that KWA parts may not work with KSC items because some things undergo redesign and modification. KSC builds their guns to work with [duster] and ours for Green Gas". He noted that the KWA MP7 is rated for 380+fps while the KSC is rated for 300. He also said that I'd be best off contacting an overseas KSC dealer to get a nozzle.

But we know that a lot of KSC/KWA parts are interchangeable...can't say about all of them though.

So far as I've seen from the KWA pistols and rifles...they're very nicely built. The issue that I'd say in "general" is that their pistols are setup to shoot TOO hot. For some models they'll exceed indoor CQB limits. There's a couple of trends where they eventually self desctruct (the M9 model was notorious for that I believe).

So what's the difference...don't know. Maybe I'll have to get a KWA MP7 to find out....:D

One line for Japan, and another for USA.

It isn't rocket science.

I could always order the KWA version and hand it off to you for testing purposes. I would have liked to have gone with the KSC being how it is useable in CQB out of the box. I can probably pull the off buying the KWA and saving up a little longer for a laptop if it truly is a bust.