The Weaponry Of WW1 Airsoft

In recent years, we have been blessed with an increasing variety of Great War era accurate airsoft replicas, from the venerable SMLE to heavy-hitting Maxim M1910.

Here are some ideas about what airsoft weaponry would be right for you in the trenches.

BOLT ACTION RIFLES

With an ever-increasing amount of era-accurate rifles becoming available on the airsoft market, arming yourself with a primary weapon has never been easier! However, if you are looking for something simpler than a reproduction, then we are pleased to confirm that even a basic VSR rifle would be considered sufficient, and a hessian wrap to hide any era-inaccuracies is more than enough to see you through the fight! Custom rifles are also commonplace within the historical airsoft community, so always feel welcome to consult others for advice.

SHOTGUNS

Many new to the era may buy themselves a cheap spring shotgun. These are single-shot and easy to use, allowing the user to get a feel for the game style before committing to a longer-ranged or costly rifle. They are also useful for close quarters, such as in buildings or when clearing trenches. There are a number available, some more traditional-looking than others. As with rifles, if you feel they look too modern, a simple hessian scrim wrap can solve that.

REVOLVERS & PISTOLS

Luckily, there is a vast array of pistols available and generally any pistol used before the Second World War can be accepted as well as any revolver as era accurate. Due to the nature of arms development in the First World War, there is an inexhaustible list of pistols you can use, as well as them not being nation-specific.

Machine Guns

The weapon that defines the start of The Great War is the rapid fire of the machine gun. In airsoft, these weapons hold an interesting place with only limited ready made productions being available. With the Viva Arms Maxim M1910 being an expensive but available out of the box option, Thankfully, the Machine Guns of the era are bulky by nature, making it very easy to make conversions out of readily available airsoft platforms. There are endless possible choices varying from the Vickers gun through the MG-08 and Hotchkiss machine gun. There's a wide market for individual creativity

Special weapons

The Great War saw endless ways of flinging HE at one another. In airsoft this can be quite a difficult subject, with different airsoft sites having different rules on pyrotechnics or shower shells. However there's still more than enough opportunities for unique weapons, These can vary from 40mm flare gun mockup to large cannons at the top end,