Source: www.tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru

The release of airsoft electric guns - AEGs - seems to have been in something of a flux recently and has slowed to a trickle. What with airsoft manufacturers being the copy-cat beasts that they are the major pending releases seem to be all gas models in one form or another - though who knows why, as I personally can’t see the big deal with the gas gun fashion.

Two manufacturers seem to be bucking the trend and are producing new AEGs at a decent rate - they are King Arms and Dboy. And this brings me nicely - past my mini-rant - to the point…

Kalash brand (Dboy in disguise) have released a lovely steel version of the AK105. Wonderful news for all the Spetsnaz fans out there, as this AEG fills a nice tactical gap between the Beta shorties and the full sized AK74M by way of representing the contemporary Russian Army inventory [yes, I know the Betas aren‘t real - but they give us a modern short Russian CQB weapon].

Up until now the budding ‘Spetz’ player wanting a nice tactical sized AK for those ’covert ops’ situations would have had to either make do with the (now obsolete) AKS74U replica or perhaps get their hands on a CYMA AK105 - which have been very rare here in the UK (or import one of the more expensive AK105 replicas or kits from abroad).

Left: CYMA CM.031D - skeleton stock version of the AK-105. This was very briefly available in the UK. CYMA have also released a solid stock version (I believe Actionhobbys.co.uk may still have some). The version depicted is available from RSOV of Hong Kong.

The Kalash AK105 is *the* worth while waiting for AEG of the year so far. Not only is it a replica of the latest model of 105 - with AK74M style side folding solid stock - but Kalash have made this model ‘all steel’. This is great news for the authenticity purists as it not only looks the business but can now be weathered properly, giving it that realistic dinked-up appearance.

Add to the 105 the recently released Kobra red dot sight and one of the readily available replica PBS-1 Russian suppressors and you have a cool looking piece of Spetsnaz gun-porn.

The Kalash AK105 is available at RSOV at just $98.99 - but with the Pound being so weak at the moment I will be waiting for one of the UK retailers to pick it up in a month or two instead of importing one (and incurring all the additional costs).

It's a real pity that I cannot be announcing that Kalash will be reissuing all of it’s AK range in steel - but it would be nice to think that they will or at least make any new models all steel (oh for a Kalash steel AKM or RPK!).

Interesting links:

> Kalash RK08 AK-105 at RSOV of Hong Kong
> CYMA CM.40D AK-105 - solid stock - at Actionhobbies.co.uk
> CYMA CM.031D AK-105 - skeleton stock - at RSOV of Hong Kong
> A.C.M. AK red dot (Kobra replica) at RSOV of Hong Kong
> Element 'PBS1' suppressor replica at RSOV of Hong Kong