Glock 17 - Tokyo Marui
My first reaction on hearing that Tokyo Marui were producing a GBB Glock 17 was "Why?".
For years now, KSC (and bastard offspring KWA) have been producing perfectly good Glocks (from tiny 26s all the way up to 34s) and there seemed little cause for celebration that TM had chosen this ubiqutous gun to replicate.
However, the editor of AI got in touch to say they could get me one to review, so here is the JustPistols version of the fuller review that appeared in an issue of Airsoft International some months ago.
In the Box
After the visual excitement that TM's 1911A1 delivers, the Glock’s box is a little, well, dull…
The lid is quite attractive with a lot of white space (rather than TM’s recent preference for dark and moody lids) and photographs of the Glock on a non-slip metal plate (like those you see on steps of JCBs and ships).
Inside, though, the box is a big disappointment after the 1911 – It’s just like all the earlier Tokyo Marui GBBs, a slab of grey polystyrene, which holds the Glock 17 itself (with the magazine fitted into its own separate slot), although it is fair to say the Glock is more secure in the box than the 1911A1 I reviewed.
There is the usual collection of manuals, targets and BBs and a cleaning rod for the barrel. What is interesting, is the inclusion of some 'glow-in-the-dark' night sights.
First Impressions
The Glock 17 itself lacks the excellence of the TM 1911A1, but it's streets ahead of any TM Beretta I've seen.
In terms of finish it is very like the fairly recent SIG P226 from TM, it is a little plasticky, but it's pretty well made overall.
One thing some will appreciate is all the 'real-steel' Glock features which are, increasingly, absent on KSC/KWA guns. The grip has a Glock logo, as does the slide and the trademark, two part trigger is present (Although don't expect these features to arrive intact if you are in the USA).
The gun feels reasonably solid (a real Glock is light, too) and the moulding quality is as good as we’ve come to expect of Tokyo Marui recently if not, to my eyes, quite up there with KSC or Western Arms, unlike the 1911A1.
The 17 feels good enough in your hand, though. It weighs 720g - around 100g heavier than a real Glock 17 with no ammunition - although a disproportionate 305g (42%) is in the magazine (shades of the Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa in this respect, although, to me, the balance of the Glock feels better than the Hi-Capa’s, which I found too light in the muzzle).
There is not a lot of metal in a real Glock and the only external parts which are metal are the slide lock and the recoil rod (The latter is often plastic on KSC/KWA Glocks and on Glock Glocks!).
Closer Look
The frame is nicely moulded (the faintly visible moulding seams are always much more forgivable on a replica of a polymer framed gun as the real thing often have them), replicating the latest, 3rd Generation Glock frame (Ignore talk of 3rd Generation Tokyo Marui GBBs, this is what the box lid text refers to), including the now obligatory accessory rail. The front of the grip is contoured to accommodate your fingers and it is heavily, but not uncomfortably ribbed and chequered, to provide a secure hold.
The slide, like that of the Tokyo Marui SIG P226, is well moulded and finished, but looks a little too much like a Tokyo Marui spring pistol’s in plastic quality for my liking, although this does extend to clear and deep markings which look good even from a distance (a major criticism of the KSC Glocks).
On the left side of the slide there is the familiar Glock logo (as with the KSC guns, purists may quibble over its accuracy, but it looks good enough to my eyes) with 17, AUSTRIA and 9x19 following as you move back down the gun. The left side grip is marked with the Glock logo again, which the latest KSC guns lack.
One thing to note is that some reports suggest the Tokyo Marui Glock 17 is a fraction bigger than the real thing, which means it doesn’t fit into Fobus or similar moulded holsters easily.
Fortunately, the engineers at Tokyo Marui know that gas guns lead harder lives than their springers and the frame and slide both feature some reinforcement with metal. In the slide, this takes the form of a band of metal, which extends around the barrel opening at the end of the slide, strengthening it where it takes the most impact from stopping on blow back. In the frame, there is a subframe, which holds the internal hammer and trigger mechanisms. These are both very similar to the KSC Glock 17. There is a metal recoil spring rod too, unlike the KSC Glock 17 I once owned. The internal hammer mechanism looks stronger and better engineered than KSC’s to my unqualified eyes – I had a KSC Glock 19 hammer snap once (although other KSC Glocks have been fine), but the Tokyo Marui one looks unlikely to do so easily.
The familiar two part trigger (in plastic) is present and fully operational, requiring you to pull the centre section to actually fire the gun – Full marks to Tokyo Marui there - and Tokyo Marui have added a safety (real Glocks do not have an active safety mechanism), which locks the trigger by the simple action of moving the serial number plate under the frame towards the trigger guard. This is unobtrusive and effective and pleases the Japanese authorities, although it seems unlikely any airsofter will ever use it. The magazine holds 25 rounds, but the base plate is marked with Tokyo Marui markings, rather than the Glock logo.
Like the real thing, but rather disappointingly, given how fast they wear on KSC Glocks, Tokyo Marui have fitted a plastic magazine release, although there are already aftermarket metal ones available.
Shooting Impressions
Enough of how it looks, though, how does it shoot? Most skirmishers forgive TM a lot in return for reliability and good range.
Click on image for bigger version in separate window.
Carrying out my standard 5m/6 round, off hand test, my first best 5 from 6 shots with .25g BBs were in a 23mm (1 inch) cluster. A second set were slightly wider (about 30mm) but more accurately placed in the centre of the target.
A quick plink down my 70ft garden saw a 6” x 6” target repeatedly hit to point of aim and the trajectory was impressively flat without touching the hop-up, which is set with a wheel under the barrel, as with most Tokyo Marui GBBs.
The standard sights worked well, but I fitted the night sights, too. They are easy to fit, being securely held in by screws in the underside of the slide (that does mean the rear isn’t adjustable for windage, though).
Power-wise, the Glock performed a little better than most TM guns I've tried.
Over 10 shots, the TM Glock 17 averaged an impressive 273fps (using Ultrair Summer gas) indoors (at 15C).
Experience suggests this would equate to about 300fps at 20C, as good as any KSC Glock.
| Shot | FPS |
| 1 | 278.7 |
| 2 | 273.3 |
| 3 | 274.5 |
| 4 | 273.3 |
| 5 | 272.3 |
| 6 | 271.1 |
| 7 | 273.9 |
| 8 | 272.5 |
| 9 | 271.3 |
| 10 | 271.0 |
Trigger pull was 805g (28 Oz), which is a medium weight pull for a GBB.
Take Down
Take down on the TM Glock is very, very simple.
Drop the magazine and then push the disassembly catches (on either side of the frame, over the trigger) down. The slide, barrel and recoil rod will then push forward off the frame.
The recoil rod can be removed by pushing it gently forward and down and then back. The barrel should be slid forward and down, once clear of the nozzle.
Conclusions
So, is the airsoft world better for another Glock 17? I would say so.
My initial feeling was that the gun was a bit disappointing visually after the 1911 (and I stand by that), but as an airsoft Glock at an affordable price, the Tokyo Marui is well worth considering against a KSC.
The weight is reasonable, it feels good in the hand and looks as realistic as most similarly priced GBBs. Metal slide and barrel kits are available and the night sights are a bonus. More importantly, performance-wise, it delivers the excellent accuracy you expect of a recent Tokyo Marui product and the power is good.
For under £100 in the UK (cheaper, obviously, from Hong Kong retailers), it represents another excellent GBB from Tokyo Marui for the money, if not quite as great as their 1911A1.
Weight : 720g (305g Magazine)
Realism : ***
Quality : ***
Power : ****
Accuracy : *****
Thanks to Airsoft International for the loan of the Glock 17
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