New Kalash steel RK-06S (AK-74). Source: Gunner Airsoft Hong KongProduct: Kalash steel and upgraded wood RK-06S (AK-74)
Price: $110usd - probably about £140 when it hits the UK
Retailer: Gunner Airsoft (Hong Kong)

It's nice to see Dboy/Kalash starting to slowly replace earlier pot metal models with steel ones, and the demand is certainly out there. But it doesn't seem too long ago when I bought my Kalash AK74 (pot metal), which puts me in a bit of a quandary about upgrading to the steel version...

I always said that I wouldn't go mad and have a huge number of AEGs, but that I would slowly and continually upgrade the restricted collection I did have. I started my collection buying mainly cheapsoft plastic or pot metal models...And now there is the opportunity to go steel. But is it worth it?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with my pot metal AKs - they have proven strong and reliable. However, the one steel Kalash I have just bought - AK105 (RK-08) - has actually shown a couple of the negative aspects of steel - weight and rust.

Beautiful cosmetic enhancements - but at what cost? Source: Gunner Airsoft (Hong Kong)So, I am now thinking, maybe I should skip the small leap between budget pot metal and budget steel and instead wait and save a bit longer and upgrade my collection to one of the premier makes instead (LCT, Inokatsu, VFC or RS). The exception to this train of thought - or alternative route - is what I'm doing with my pot metal RK-01, slowly upgrade it's parts with steel RK-12 components a piece at a time.

In the meantime, instead of worrying about external cosmetic changes I am turning my attention to upgrading some of the internal components to get the most our of the AEGs I already own.

The one exception to this will be Kalash's forthcoming RK-10 - it's new steel AKMS replica. I don't own an AKMS at all, so this would be a excellent way to get one...

And, in the end, this is perhaps the lesson here - if you already own a good, reliable pot metal AEG it may not be worth spending the additional money for a small improvement. On the other hand, if you haven't already got a particular model represented by these new steel versions then Kalash's recent steel releases represent excellent value for money.

> Kalash RK-06S at Gunner Airsoft
> My pot-to-steel RK-01-to-RK-12 upgrade project