Tokyo Marui – Samurai Edge – Special Edition Review
Around five months ago Tokyo Marui released their Biohazard 3, limited edition model. It was basically a Marui Beretta 92F, wearing its Sunday best, and with a few extra tweaks. Although the gun was very good performance wise, some people raised an eyebrow at its price – asking the question, ‘What are you really getting for the extra money’? Well of course, its hard to see at first glance – especially with only apparent minor changes to the gun’s look and performance. So some people were discouraged from parting with their hard earned cash, and opted for a cheaper model instead, such as the Tactical Master.
Now, Marui have released yet another model in the Resident Evil line up, this time based on ‘Barry Burton’s’ gun, which is… yes you guessed it – another Beretta 92F – but that’s not a bad thing, you can never have enough!
If you choose to purchase one of these guns, its worth mentioning now before we get into too much technical detail, about how impressive the packaging is on this latest model. Bear in mind that this gun is the same price as the Bio 3 – not only are you getting the extra features outlined in the rest of this review, but you get a high-quality, stamped and embossed metal case. Padded with foam, with special cut-outs for gun and magazine… This really impressed me before I had even removed the gun from the box, and I’m sure it will you also.
Labelled the ‘Samurai Edge’, this time the changes are instantly recognisable – and Marui have chosen to go down the ‘big is beautiful’ route. The gun now boasts an extra 50mm at the front, thanks to the chunky and impressive looking ‘Flash Eliminator’, and a further 40mm out of its rear end, where the magazine has been extended. Strangely enough this only accommodates an extra five rounds, taking the Samurai Edge’s magazine capacity to a useful thirty rounds. A first glance at this gun, and you’ll
probably recall that metallic cyborg, Robocop – stomping around shooting the bad guys with his enormous, 3rnd burst gun. The gun does resemble a 93R on steroids – but that’s where the similarities stop.
Because the Samurai Edge is based on the existing 92F models, it doesn’t incorporate a 3rd burst, as found on a gun like the 93R, which was a popular gun for the manufacturers KSC. This is maybe a little disappointing because with the size and the threatening looks, maybe you’d expect more firepower at your finger tips. Of course, don’t be confused into the thinking the Samurai Edge pussy-foots around when it comes to performance. It’s everything you’d expect from Marui’s latest line up of Gas Blowbacks – powerful and reliable.
There were two features that I didn’t like too much on the Bio 3, those were the wooden effect grips, and the silver finish trigger. Marui have dropped these, replacing them with ye `olde matt black finish – much more favourable I believe with the Airsofting community. They’ve chosen to keep the silver effect barrel, which looks just right sitting on top of the now monstrous top slide.
The latest and most useful edition to the range, is the accessory rail which sits along the bottom of the Samurai Edge. Measuring around 100mm in length, this rail can accommodate a host of useful accessories such as targeting devices or a torch. I would be well worth equipping the gun with one of the aforementioned, however I warn you now, finding a holster for the beast may prove tricky. I would assume though, that a holster for a Desert Eagle would make this pistol feel quite homely.
The rail and flash eliminator unit looks like it could be fitted to a standard Marui 92F. The slide return spring’s guide rod has been lengthen, and the bottom of the rail extends over the 92F’s frame, held in place by two hex ‘bolts’. I’m not sure if this would be available as a spare part, or how much it would cost… but the possibility is there to modify your existing 92F – with a little know-how.
As per the Bio 3 – custom markings can be found on this gun in numerous places. ‘S.T.A.R.S R.P.D Special Team’, is stamped onto the left hand side of the gun, and ‘Custom Kendo Shop’ can be found on the right. Only in very small print is the wording ‘Tokyo Marui – Japan’ on the right hand side, at the top of the grip. If you’re like me, you don’t like your Airsoft guns to be covered in manufacturer trademarks – but instead see some indications of the real steel. The black, rubber effect grips have the custom badge of the S.T.A.R.S team embossed, where we would normally find the logo of Pietro Beretta on standard 92F model.
A generous amount of metal parts can be found on this gun, including the trigger, hammer, take-down level, slide-release lever, safety lever and of course the chunky and heavy magazine. The gun is capable of accepting normal Marui 92F magazines, which is obviously good for those of you who may already own this model. But the ultimate balance of both looks and feel is achieved by using the magazine intended for this weapon. However, with all good things – there usually is a price to pay… and this one is becoming more apparent on Marui models.
This comes in the form of the Gas – the power source for these wonderful models. Marui’s last GBB, the Glock 26 had a fault with the shape of the magazine, whereby it was impossible to fill the G26 mag (with the standard bottom magazine plate in place) with American Eagle gas. this is because the nozzle for American Eagle is too short by only a few mm. So in order to fill the G26, you have two options. Either slide off the bottom plate on the magazine, or replace it with the ‘flat’ plate, without the finger grove. It was very annoying, but its such a good gun, most of us live with this.
However, the Samurai Edge suffers a similar fault which doesn’t present a work-around. Unfortunately the valve for loading gas, is slightly recessed into the bottom of the magazine. You CANNOT get American Eagle gas into the mag, because of the short nozzle on the gas can, and you can’t slide the bottom of the magazine off, or remove it. This leaves you with only two choices for a power source. Marui’s HFC134a gas (how convenient – their nozzle is just long enough), or ‘Green Gas’, which is HFC22, some people steer clear of this because its very powerful, and poorly made guns/magazines can be damaged. Therefore, if the manufacturers of American Eagle Gas are reading this, I urge you to lengthen the nozzle on your cans! (correct at the time of writing).
Anyway, not the end of the world – I had some Marui 134a anyway, and I’m sure most people will have some in their shooting kit. But its a bit of a pain and I hope Marui will not carry this design flaw into other new models. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the gun, its just not compatible with one of the more popular gases. If you’re going to use standard Marui 92f mags in this gun, it won’t be a problem.
Covering just about every aesthetic angle, lets move onto the guns performance. After charging up the mag (effortlessly now, thanks to the Marui gas) and carefully inserting thirty, 0.2g rounds – it was time to put the weapon to the test. This gun makes a wonderfully positive ‘ker-click’ sound when racking the slide back, to load that first round into the chamber. On doing this, it will also set the trigger into single action mode, whereby a gentle squeeze will let that 6mm BB tear off out of the barrel, at speed towards your target.
The sights are non-adjustable, and have been set to around 10m – obviously after this you have to compensate slightly. The gun was fairly accurate and powerful. I did notice the recoil wasn’t as great, now that American Eagle wasn’t being used – this probably equated to a slight loss in power too. But you can’t fault the gun’s reliability, it functions right up until the last drop of gas, and that’s 60 rounds on one charge. I tested the gun with small paper plates (to represent Mister poor Airsofter’s head) at 10m. Then I proceeded to rapid fire all thirty rounds into the target. Around 90% of the shots hit the centre of the target drilling a 90mm hole through the plate… the other 10% started to take a walk to the left – I put that down to my not very steady hands at the time.
Conclusion
Well, its been a very productive year for Marui, and now well into 2001 we’ve seen the Glock 26, P90 and the Samurai Edge released, each one boasting new advances in Airsoft technology. Last year, the Biohazard 3 was one of the custom pistols to have… now it looks as if the Samurai Edge will take its place. In terms of performance, the guns are identical (apart from the extra five rounds the S Edge carries) but for the same price of £190 (price correct at time of writing) you’re now getting a full metal and foam padded case, a custom Resident Evil pin-badge and a gun which certainly looks the business. Those of you who are considering purchasing one of the two models, I would have to urge you to purchase the Samurai Edge – on the simple grounds you’re getting more for your money.
With regards to the Gas problem. I have been assured that you can use ‘Green Gas’ in this gun, which will certainly give you more power and performance. The valves in the latest range of Marui guns are now better than they were, and can take the extra pressure that Green Gas provides. Those of you who want the performance (if not better) than American Eagle… get yourself some HFC ‘Green Gas’ and start enjoying Marui’s new offering… the rest of you who are happy with Marui’s 134a gas, start counting your pennies, because the Samurai Edge is certainly a gun with something to offer.
