My New Toy - Tanaka Colt SAA .45 Casyopea

[ISA_Yoshi]

I know it's not a BBMG, but other people have posted airsoft stuff, right?

So, many of you know about the raid on Tanaka Works in Japan a couple of weeks ago. If not, you can read about it here

Anyway, due to a rumor that the replicas could be converted to fire a .22 round, the guns are now banned. Luckily, I ordered mine just before airsoftglobal.com took them off their site.

The guns use a system where the gas is held in each individual shell, making it as real as possible for an airsoft revolver.

The bulk of the gun is plastic, but it still has a nice heft to it. metal parts include the inner barrel, the lower frame, trigger, hammer, and shell ejection rod tube. It's fully trademarked.

Mine just got here today; here are some pics:





here you can just barely make out the gas valve. (stupid camera) it's supposed to use HFC 134a, but it's impossible to find, so I ordered a duster gas adapter that should get here tomorrow

Anyone have any suggestions for getting the stupid paint off the plastic outer barrel without damaging it?

[Eddbot]

I suggest not removing the paint, while a bit tacky, it is there for a reason.

[Davidvaini]

eh if its not against your local laws id suggest painting it..

[Young]

I wanted one, but it got banned and I didn't have the money....
Let us know how the gas in shell performs.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Details of the internals of the cartridge would be appreciated

[ALIHISGREAT]

to remove the paint, you could sand it a little and spray on some krylon fusion?

[Young]

I wouldn't repaint it, since it is discontenued it could be (or already is) Rare and it will cut down on the price. but hey its your gun. (that I am extreamly wanting...)

[VH_man]

Dont do ANYTHING WITH IT

Hell, dont even use it too much..... Keep it in pretty much mint condition.

Youll thank me someday.....

That and, You lucky bastard.......... Ive always wanted an airsoft revolver. They are so SWEET!

[Hotwired]

Sounds exactly like the Brocock cartridge.

That got banned in the UK were they were made also because they could be (apparently and with crap power) converted to fire a .22 bullet.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Sounds exactly like the Brocock cartridge.

That got banned in the UK were they were made also because they could be (apparently and with crap power) converted to fire a .22 bullet.

Looks like it could operate in a similar fashion, but if ISA_Yoshi could be so kind as to disassemble one it would be nice

Apparently it was easy enough for anyone with a lathe to machine a brocock sized insert for the chamber that would then contain a 22LR cartridge, enough power to be lethal at close range but since they were deliberately weakened to prevent such conversions, also potentially dangerous to the firer as well.

[POLAND_SPUD]

anyone with a lathe to machine a brocock sized insert for the chamber that would then contain a 22LR cartridge

anyone with a decent lathe can build a firearm.... LOL we should ban lathes

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

anyone with a decent lathe can build a firearm.... LOL we should ban lathes

Indeed, what the UK authorities conveniently forgot is that the essential component of conversion is the ammunition, the purchase and ownership of which were already regulated. Anyone who can obtain ammunition illegally can probably easily obtain firearms illegally as well.

[jitup]

I do not understand what goes through the authorities heads when banning thing like this. Look at this,



http://www.instructables.com/id/S7VY1CCFC2BTQNL/

What next are they going to outlaw house barbs?

[ISA_Yoshi]

i'd like to remove the paint, but i don't want to damage it, hence the hesitation. I think the paint itself brings down the quality, as it wasn't originally there, just painted by airsoftglobal.com because I live in the States, and ONLY for that reason.

JSR: I'd like to disassemble a shell to see exactly how it works, but @ $46 for 6, and the chance of me getting more anytime soon (or at all because they're banned now) very slim, i'd rather not.

There's a normal gas insert valve on the back of the shell. when the hammer strikes, it hits about an inch below the active shell, so i don't know exactly how tanaka made it work, but as far as i can tell, it works like a tiny grenade launcher shell. when the hammer strikes the valve is (somehow) pressed, releasing the gas. if you look where the bb goes, there is a thin rectangular piece in the center stretching the entire diameter of the inner shell. i'm guessing the valve is pressed against this piece to release the gas. beyond these guesses, the only thing i could do is take it apart. i don't trust myself to do it and not screw up with an $8 discontinued shell on the line. similarly, i'd rather not use green gas/propane since it's designed to use HFC 143a (i plan on using duster gas). It might (very slim possibility, but still a chance) shorten the life of the shells



I'm just glad i got something that seems to be a "new classic" similar to the asahi m700. (exact same situation happened to them in the mid 90s)

VH_man: yeah, i only plan on testing it a couple of times, then it'll get put in a safe place and only brought out to show off

Poland_Spud: you need a license to manufacture firearms. the only reason things like bbmgs are okay is that they use air instead of guun powder as a propellant.
any other questions, feel free to ask/suggestions/whatever

[SP00K]

Man, you were lucky to get a hold of one of those things. My friend told me about this stuff and I decided I totally had to get my hands on one of them. I checked around the internet but I couldn't find a single thing.